Ilkeston's female footballers kick off season in style with brand new kit

The new Ilkeston Town Ladies Football Club kit has been sponsored by Roberts Bakery.

Chris Bulloch, site manager at the Ilkeston-based bakery, went along to the club’s recently revamped ground to see the ladies play their first home game of the season against Notts County Ladies Football Club.

Chris also presented the team with a selection of premium speciality breads, which had been made at the firm’s bakery on Manners Industrial Estate, Ilkeston.

Chris said: “Our community is really important to us, so it’s a great pleasure for us to support this local team of ladies who all live in Ilkeston.

"I was delighted to meet the team and see their new kit and I wish them all the best for a very successful season.”

Mike Pike, ladies manager at the club, added: “This is a historic time for the club and we’re really excited to unveil the new kit, which features our brand new badge.

"We’re lucky to have a strong team with lots of players who want to play at a higher level.

"The support of local companies like Roberts Bakery is really important in helping us to keep playing and hopefully move up the leagues to become one of the most successful ladies sides in the area.”

Last year, Ilkeston Town FC embarked on a £2 million investment programme to upgrade its New Manor Ground.

The club has also rebranded with a new badge that was designed to reflect the history of the club and the town.

Roberts Bakery started out in 1887 as a modest grocery store, which sold freshly-baked bread to customers in its hometown of Northwich in the heart of Cheshire.

The firm opened its second site in Ilkeston in 2010 and, since then, has invested more than £3.5 million in state-of-the-art machinery to help the bakery to improve production capabilities.

The bakery currently employs 48 people and has plans to increase the headcount to 60 as more new customers come on board.