Shrewsbury Town bring festive cheer to children

Players and staff from Shrewsbury Town FC have been bringing some pre-Christmas cheer to children at home and charities abroad by handing out festive gifts.

Stars from the club began their annual trips to the children's wards of Shropshire hospitals by visiting the Rainbow Ward at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital last week.

And staff at the club handed more than 2,500 football kits and training kits to personnel from RAF Shawbury to deliver to people in need in parts of Africa, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands.

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In Shropshire, about 15 children aged between two weeks to 11 years old were thrilled by the appearance of their favourite players included Jermaine Grandison, Mark Wright, James Collins, Reuben Hazell, Lionel Ainsworth, Carl Regan and Connor Goldson.

The footballers handed out gifts of full football kits for the older children and Shrewsbury Town all-in-ones for the infants.

Hazell said: "As a father myself, it must be difficult for the parents at this Christmas time to have a son or daughter in hospital. All of the players were pleased to have brought some cheer into the lives of the families at this festive time."

Striker Collins added: "Some of the tiny babies looked so small, it is such a shame that they have to be in hospital for Christmas, but at least their parents can stay with them."

Meanwhile, the club has also joined forces with a military appeal based around delivering football kits to vulnerable people across the world.

Personnel from RAF Shawbury visited the Greenhous Meadow stadium to collect 2,545 football and training kits from the club for the Taking Football to Africa and Beyond Appeal.

The appeal has been running at the airbase since 2006 and is led by the unit's community relations officer Squadron Leader Neil Hope.

The latest collection brings to an end another busy year for the appeal which has made deliveries to Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands.

Squadron Leader Hope said: "I am very grateful to the Shrewsbury chairman Roland Wycherley, manager Graham Turner and club secretary Jayne Bebb for thinking of the appeal when deciding to dispose of the kits.

"They will be delivered across the world and the RAF Shawbury team will distribute some of them in Kenya in June next year." Anyone wishing to donate to the appeal can contact RAF Shawbury on (01939) 250351 or e-mail neil.hope684@mod.uk

The club also raised cash for charity at its annual carol service at the Greenhous Meadow in Oteley Road on Saturday night.

The free event attracted about 200 people with the service conducted by Shrewsbury Town's club chaplain Reverend Christopher Deakin.

Operations manager Ian Bebbington carried out the introduction while readings were made by both president Mal Starkey and community development manager Martin James.

There were also performances from both Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir and soloist Rosie Pinches.Organisers hailed the event which raised cash for the baby unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.