A local Greenock retailer has stepped forward to support grassroots football, with a donation intended to help kit out a neighbourhood team ahead of the new season.
Local retailer and suppliers combine to help club
Bikram Kaur, owner of KeyStore Burns Square in Greenock, joined forces with PepsiCo to provide £900 to Greenock Juniors Football Club for the purchase of new team kits.
The donation, made through the KeyStore Community Fund and supported by supplier partners, was described by the shop owner as a way of giving back to the neighbourhood since opening her business in the area.
“It makes a great difference, being relatively new in the area, to be able to give back to the community. It helps us build relationships in our neighbourhood, so we’re delighted to be supported by PepsiCo and the KeyStore Community Fund to top up our donation to support the club.”
The contribution is small in absolute terms but significant for the club: kit costs are a recurring expense for amateur and semi-professional sides, and support from local traders can make the difference between a team being fully kitted and struggling to meet basic costs.
Reaction from club and retailer
Club representative Steve Keegan welcomed the support, noting the difficulty smaller clubs can face when seeking backing from local businesses. He said KeyStore’s willingness to invest demonstrated care for the community and pledged the team’s continued loyalty as customers.
Officials at Filshill, the company behind the KeyStore group, also praised the collaboration between retailers and suppliers. Katie Dempster, Group Marketing Manager at Filshill, said the initiative illustrated how the KeyStore Community Fund helps local customers and grassroots organisations work together.
- Donor: KeyStore Burns Square (Bikram Kaur)
- Support: PepsiCo and the KeyStore Community Fund
- Recipient: Greenock Juniors Football Club
- Amount: £900 for new team kits
Why the donation matters in Greenock
For Greenock, community-level initiatives such as this have a resonance beyond sport. Local shops and clubs often form the backbone of civic life: they provide meeting places, support youth activities and help maintain social networks. Sponsorship of local teams also keeps money circulating within the town, with kits, equipment and related purchases frequently made through nearby suppliers.
Greenock Juniors, like many clubs at this level, rely on a mixture of player subscriptions, small fundraising events and the goodwill of businesses to cover costs. The £900 donation will allow the club to replace or augment its kits, helping players present a united image on the pitch and reducing financial pressure on families and volunteers.
Beyond immediate kit provision, the tie-up highlights two wider trends familiar to Inverclyde communities: the increasing role of supplier-funded community schemes and the importance of local retail businesses in supporting neighbourhood initiatives. For a retailer that is relatively new to Burns Square, the move also represents a way to build ties and trust with local residents.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| KeyStore Burns Square | Main donor, local retailer |
| PepsiCo | Supplier partner supporting the donation |
| KeyStore Community Fund (Filshill) | Provided matching/support to top up donation |
| Greenock Juniors FC | Recipient — new team kits |
Club officials said the relationship with KeyStore will continue beyond this one-off donation. In addition to assisting with kit costs, local sponsorship can encourage greater engagement between businesses and the families who use their services, strengthening community bonds that are particularly important in towns like Greenock.
As Scottish grassroots football seeks to recover momentum after recent seasons disrupted by the pandemic and cost pressures, small-scale support such as this donation from a local retailer and its supplier partners can be a practical lifeline for teams and the communities they serve.
Local residents who wish to support Greenock Juniors or other community clubs are encouraged to contact the teams directly or visit stores such as KeyStore Burns Square to find out about future fundraising activities and sponsorship opportunities.
