Chesterfield FC Community Trust organised visits to Ashgate Hospicecare and Chesterfield Royal Hospital this week, helping the Spireites players and staff to spread some festive cheer.
Spireites defender Haydn Hollis spoke to Spireites Digital about visiting the local hospice and began by explaining that it’s a great opportunity for him and the rest of the squad to get involved in the community.
“It opens your eyes up as players,” he said. “It’s great to come out in the community and meet some people.
“We’ve been chatting to people and helping them wrap their Christmas presents and just seeing their day to day life.”
Ashgate Hospicecare nurses Veronica Doxey and Gail Fawbert were very appreciative of the squad’s visit and spoke positively about the impact of having the players meeting the patients.
“It’s been amazing and they’ve been really good with the patients, talking to them and helping them wrap their Christmas presents,” said Veronica.
Gail added: “They’ve really enjoyed it today. They didn’t know the football club were coming until today so it’s been a great surprise for everybody. For the footballers to be interacting with the patients, it’s been fantastic.”
The players and staff then visited the children’s ward at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and delivered various gifts to the kids.
Alison Hobbs, who is a HR partner at the hospital, said: “It’s lovely to have them because nobody wants to have to be in hospital, especially over Christmas time.
“It’s really nice for the children to meet the players and they bring a bit of Christmas cheer.”