Wigan Convenience Store Backs New Youth Football Section

Ince Rose Bridge Sports & Community Club’s new football section has received funding from a local convenience store through Nisa’s Heart of the Community Awards. The award comes as the shop, Nisa Local Smithy Green, passes £45,000 in community donations over 17 years.

The awards give grants of up to £2,000 to projects that help young people build confidence, skills and wellbeing. This funding grant will help Ince Rose Bridge grow its new football section and give more young people in Ince and the wider Wigan area the chance to play. The club’s Under-15s marked the occasion with a win in their first-ever home game at the Bridge earlier this month.

The shop is run by brothers Hepesh “Gaz” Halai and Mitesh Halai, who have previously backed local rugby and football teams through the awards with sponsorship, kit and equipment.

“Young people deserve opportunities to thrive, and grassroots sport provides so much more than just somewhere to play football,” said Gaz. “It teaches teamwork, discipline, respect and confidence, while bringing young people together and giving them something positive to be part of.”

The award comes through Making a Difference Locally (MADL), Nisa’s charity, which lets independent retailers direct money raised in store to good causes nearby. Clubs can’t apply to it directly, the nomination has to come from a local Nisa shop, which means the first step to securing a grant is a conversation with the club’s nearest Nisa Local.

National grant schemes get plenty of attention, but plenty of support also comes through local businesses, supermarket community schemes, retailer charities and county sports bodies. Many of these are small, quiet or open only for short windows. A club that knows what’s out there, and knows the local business owners, is far better placed when the next one opens.

Clubs interested in MADL funding can find their nearest Nisa shop at https://www.nisalocally.co.uk/stores/search and read more about the charity at https://www.nisalocally.co.uk/corporate/corporate-social-responsibility/madl/.

The current round of funding applications closes at 12pm on 30th October 2026, but Nisa shops can nominate clubs and community groups at any time of year using the money they raise in store.