Players and staff joined forces with Bolton Wanderers in the Community to share some festive cheer with those that deserve it most this Christmas.
First-team and women’s squad members – along with head coach Steven Schumacher and his coaching staff – visited Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton Hospice, Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley and the Sutton Estate Community Centre in Bolton to deliver presents and chat with staff, patients, residents and those in need of the services provided.
On an uplifting day for all concerned, the players also signed autographs, shared photos and joined in Christmas activities to give something back to the town that supports them.
“We all understand how important our football club is in the local community,” said Schumacher, who was among those to visit the children’s and critical care wards at Royal Bolton Hospital.
“The more often that we can get out and do things like this the better, because having a presence in the local community and a positive presence, I think, is really important.
“We've met a few fans who seemed really pleased to have us here and there's a few people who are not Bolton fans but were still pleased to say hello.
“If we're only here for a few hours, you're having little conversations with a couple of the kids and asking them who their favourite players are. Just for that five minutes that you're there with them, it'll hopefully brighten up their day. We've given a few presents out to the kids and chocolate to some of the staff, so it's been a nice day.”
Those thoughts were echoed at the Hospice, Derian House, which cares for and helps 400 seriously ill babies, children and young people across the North-West make the most of every moment, and at the Sutton Estate Community Centre’s Families’ Session.
Everyone at Wanderers and the staff at BWitC would like to thank all the teams at Bolton Hospice, Royal Bolton Hospital, Derian House and Sutton Estate Community Centre for being so welcoming and giving us an insight into the amazing work you do.
