Wanderers’ first-team squad, management and members of the Bolton Wanderers Women’s team helped to spread some festive cheer with their Christmas visits to Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton Hospice and Derian House Children’s Hospice.
Manager Ian Evatt, the players and coaching staff delivered gifts and chatted with patients, residents, staff and visitors at the three sites - both in Bolton and Derian House in Chorley.
Evatt and goalkeeping coaching Matt Gilks joined a dozen players - as well as Lofty the Lion - at Royal Bolton Hospital to visit children’s, paediatric, neo-natal and dementia wards to hand out presents, sign autographs and share in photos.
Joint assistant-managers Peter Atherton and Stephen Crainey accompanied players, including club captain George Thomason, at Derian House where they met with staff and youngsters - including Wanderers' superfan Nolan - ahead of the Festive Period.
And at Bolton Hospice, members of the first-team and women’s team along with women's coaching staff, were joined by Wanderers’ ambassador, playing legend and Hospice volunteer John McGinlay in delivering presents and chatting with residents, before heading to the Wellbeing Hub to join in with the Christmas party.
The annual visits – supported by club and Bolton Wanderers in the Community staff – form an important part of the Wanderers’ calendar as the playing and coaching team look to put some smiles on faces and deliver gifts to cheer current and future patients.
“It’s something we are delighted to do every year and we can see what it means to people,” said Evatt. “It’s a pleasure to hand over some presents and give a little something back to the community and to some of our supporters at this special time.
“It can also be a tough time for some, so hopefully going into the hospital and both the hospices, which do such outstanding work, will have provided a little tonic and a bit of joy for those requiring the services they provide.
“It is also a humbling experience for all of us and provides a bit of perspective to what we are trying to achieve and will continue to strive to do so this Christmas and beyond to give those we have seen this week and the whole town a lift.”