Blades bring festive spirit to Sheffield hospitals and hospices

19th December 2018

The Blades have been bringing the festive spirit to local hospitals, hospices and a Foodbank.

Players from both the men's and women's first teams, as well as the football management, brought Christmas cheer to the Sheffield Children's Hospital, Weston Park Hospital, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, St Luke's Hospice and the S2 Foodbank during today (18 December) when they delivered gifts and spent time chatting with patients, families as well as staff and volunteers. The gifts were funded thanks to generous donations from the players themselves, United's vice presidents, PriceCheck UK and Blades' sponsors HE Barnes and Shepherd Distribution. Dave McCarthy, operations director at United, said: -The players always really look forward to these visits every year, and I'm especially delighted that players from the women's first team took part this year. -As these organisations are our nominated charities, we work in partnership all year round with them, but the festive period is the perfect opportunity for the club to conduct these visits and try and make a big difference for all our fans in hospitals, hospices or those needing support. "We've seen the fantastic work these organisations do first-hand, so we were honoured to once again visit and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. At the Children's Hospital, skipper Billy Sharp, John Fleck, John Egan, Leon Clarke and Dean Henderson were joined by first team physio Paul Watson, club doctor Alex Worthington and women's player Sam Tierney. Those visiting Weston Park included Chris Wilder, Simon Moore, George Baldock, Jake Eastwood, Jack O'Connell, along with Ellie Gillatt, Sophie Jones and SUFC vice president Martin Ross. St Luke's enjoyed the company of Daniel Lafferty, Ollie Norwood, Richard Stearman, Kean Bryan, John Lundstram, first team coach Matt Prestridge and from the women's squad, Nat Shaw and Hollie Barker. Vice presidents Mike Blundell and long-time supporter of St Luke's, Tajinder Singh, also went along. Attending Bluebell Wood Hospice were Jake Wright, Enda Stevens, Marvin Johnson, David McGoldrick, Kieron Freeman, Bex Rayner and Thea Paul, along with goalkeeper coach Darren Ward. Finally, the S2 Foodbank were delighted to be able to show Conor Washington, Martin Cranie and Alan Knill around, along with Carla Ward, Lois Daniels, Dave McCarthy and vice president Steve Naylor, all appreciating the hard work that the most local Foodbank to Bramall Lane delivers.