A fuel cell is provided that includes anode and cathode plates each formed with a peripheral groove and an extended groove at a circumferential portion thereof. Silicone, rubber is applied to the peripheral groove and the extended groove. Before the silicone rubber has cured, the anode plate, a membrane electrode assembly and the cathode plate are stacked and compressed to form a tight seal at the circumferential portions between the anode plate and the cathode plate. The membrane electrode assembly is tightly sandwiched between the silicone rubber at the extended groove of the anode plate and the silicone rubber at the extended groove of the cathode plate to form a tight seal around the ports between the anode plate and cathode plate.