From providing Deal Town Football Club’s winning FA Vase shirts that were worn at Wembley, to helping the wardrobe departments in a blockbuster film, factory owners John and Rose Trickey have many memories from their years in business.

And it is these memories they will hold dear, as well as fondness for their customers and staff, as they prepare to retire from their factory, Jacetts, in Hope Road.

The firm has been going strong since it formed in 1990 after their previous business, Three Keys, also in Northcote Road and Hope Road, went into receivership.

“The name was chosen as a derivative of my initials, JCT,” said Mr Trickey. “The same as Three Keys means Tri Key (Trickey).

Three Keys supplied garments to companies like C&A in the 1980s.

“We started off just doing coats and jackets and track suits and slowly started doing sports gear and bespoke football kits,” John Trickey, owner of Jacketts.

It was a time when Britain still had a clothing manufacturing industry and Deal had three clothes factories.

When Three Keys closed, the couple were able to use their store premises in Hope Road to start Jacetts, operating with two members of staff.

“We started off just doing coats and jackets and track suits and slowly started doing sports gear and bespoke football kits,” added Mr Trickey.

It was creating sports gear that led them to provide tailored football shirts for actresses like Keira Knightly in the hit film Bend it Like Beckham.

It was later on in the film making process that Beckham’s sponsors Adidas decided they should all be wearing Adidas shirts if the football ace was going to appear in the flic, and so they spent thousands ensuring they did. But Jacetts still got the credits in the film - and the invites to the premier.

Other highlights include making the shirts that Deal Town FC players wore when they won the FA Vase at Wemberly in 2000.

Once the firm is wound down throughout September, staff members Carole Oliver and Katie Wilkinson will set up a business of their own with their own choice of name, using machinery they will purchase from Jacetts. But not before Mr and Mrs Trickey hold a factory clearance sale starting Monday, September 1, which will continue until everything is cleared. “Although we are retiring from Jacetts, if someone wants to come along and buy the business, we can discuss that.”

John and Rose Trickey, known by thousands for their work with Deal Carnival and the Miss European Pageant, will continue their work with the carnival - boosted by the extra time they have on their hands.

“My ambition is to take the salute at the 200th annual Deal carnival in 2026,” he said.