Maidstone are the opponents for Bearsted’s first game under their new floodlights at Honey Lane on Wednesday (7.30pm).

The friendly will also mark Bears’ 120th anniversary.

Bearsted secured a grant of £61,000 from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and raised £27,000 to make ground improvements at their Otham home. They have also installed a turnstile, a new 50-seater stand and hard standing, as well as upgrading the changing rooms and clubhouse.

Chairman Duncan Andrews said he was delighted Maidstone had agreed to the game. Admission is £5, including a programme, with seniors £3 and under-16s free if accompanied by an adult.

The project was made possible thanks to a £61,377 grant from the Premier League through the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), the largest funders of non-league football in the country.

Funded with £5.2m each year from the Premier League, the FSIF is the country’s largest provider of grants towards projects that help improve the comfort and safety of lower league football grounds in both the professional and amateur game. These improvements range from new football stands and turnstiles to floodlighting and improved provision for disabled supporters.