Big spenders Chelsea FC have splashed out on yet another new player to join their star-studded soccer squad.

However, the new team member will be turning out not in Chelsea's famous blue strip but in the equally well-known yellow and black of JCB.

It's a JCB mini excavator and the 1.5 tonne JCB 8015 machine, complete with canopy, is being put through its paces at Chelsea's new £20m training centre being built at Cobham in Surrey.

The state of the art facility includes 15 football pitches - three with under soil heating - an indoor artificial pitch and the very latest medical facilities. Chelsea players are now training on the pitches and the building of the centre is scheduled for completion in July 2006.

Jason Griffin, the club's Head Groundsman, says: “ There are a number of streams, ditches and gullies around the perimeter of the new training ground and initially we bought the digger to keep them clear of leaves and other debris.

“However it has been used for many other things in the preparation and maintenance of the new training pitches and the entire ground staff is delighted with the way the JCB is performing. It will also be pressed into service at the Stamford Bridge stadium.”

leisure-kit keyword: JCB