13/12/2023 13comments  |  Jump to last

The Everton team made its annual visit to Alder Hey Children's Hospital today to spread festive cheer.

Sean Dyche, club captain Seamus Coleman and 16 other first-team Toffees, including the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Amadou Onana, Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure, James Garner, Beto, Jack Harrison, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Nathan Patterson dropped in at the world-renowned medical facility to spend time with patients, parents and staff.

Players wore blue Christmas hats as they spent the afternoon handing out gifts and enjoying the festive fun.

Coleman acknowledged the importance of the club’s visits to Alder Hey and revealed the squad were all looking forward to a memorable day.

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“The sentiment behind it remains the most important thing,” said Coleman. “It genuinely is a day we love and look forward to, and the lads couldn’t wait to get down here today.

“The families are delighted to see us, as well, and the kids are happy, too. It’s what Christmas is about.

“It has always been a special day. The past 15 years of me being here, it’s always been a day I can remember and a day I’ve looked forward to.

“It’s a day of many emotions - obviously, a very happy day to put smiles on the kids’ faces. Today, especially, we’re seeing some kids who’ve had a tough year. I think Liverpool as a city in general look after each other, and it’s something I know we take great pride in, and rightly so.”

Alder Hey provides vital care for more than 330,000 children and young people each year, making it one of Europe’s biggest children’s hospitals, where staff treat everything from common illnesses to specialist conditions.

The local facility has forged strong links with the Club’s official charity, Everton in the Community, which runs regular activities at the hospital. 

“It’s so important the club takes part,” added Coleman. “I think our club above many clubs is so good in thinking of others who need some help. Everton in the Community, for example, is massive.

“Something like today is something we take very seriously, and we really enjoy coming down to see the kids. It’s a special day in the calendar for us.”



 

Reader Comments (13)

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Tony Abrahams
1 Posted 13/12/2023 at 16:04:22
To many people in this city, and also to many different people all over the world, Everton Football Club means everything.

To see the joy that the players can spread into the faces of little sick children and their families shows the absolute power of what football means to the people of our city. Now just go and win us the cup…!

Brian Williams
2 Posted 13/12/2023 at 20:44:26
Watching the video certainly brings a tear to the eye. It's great to see those kids laughing and smiling and forgetting their situation even for a few short hours. UTFT.
Pete Clarke
3 Posted 13/12/2023 at 21:15:43
Truly heart wrenching thing to see sick children and those players will benefit from putting a smile on the kids' faces and at the same time it will bring the players back down to earth. Hopefully it makes Christmas a little better for everyone at Alder Hey.

Love Seamus representing our club as he really is a special person.
Mike Gaynes
4 Posted 13/12/2023 at 21:27:03
This is so great. There is nothing worse than being a kid with a terrible disease. It sucks. So I love seeing the guys making the kids happy. May it lift and inspire them.
Dale Self
5 Posted 13/12/2023 at 21:49:05
Everton that.
Mike Doyle
6 Posted 13/12/2023 at 21:53:52
Mike #4,

Alder Hay is the main children's hospital in the North of England – and was walking distance from our old training ground (Bellefield). They have been doing this as long as I can remember (~50 years).

In the old days, there would be an item in The Echo and some photos in one of the matchday programmes over the Xmas period. In the interests of festive fairness, I believe our friends across the park make a visit also.

Dave Abrahams
7 Posted 13/12/2023 at 21:54:37
Seeing these sick kids happy and smiling with the players should make the players feel so happy themselves because they are the reason the kids feel this way.

They will feel 10 feet tall – can't beat making a kid happy especially one confined to hospital.

Dave Brierley
8 Posted 13/12/2023 at 22:07:08
A real eye-opener what these kids go through.
I'm delighted the team go there every Christmas and it certainly makes me very proud to be an Evertonian.
Puts everything into perspective doesn't it.
Alan McGuffog
9 Posted 13/12/2023 at 22:26:41
This makes me proud to be a blue. Alder Hey makes me proud to hail from Liverpool. I'd doubt if there is a soul from Merseyside who hasn't had some (direct or otherwise) association with this institution. It's in our DNA.
Alan J Thompson
10 Posted 14/12/2023 at 04:31:40
Takes so little and can mean so much. Well done, Everton.
Mike Hayes
11 Posted 14/12/2023 at 15:54:37
Typical of the lads to want to go there, they love seeing the kids and their reactions.

I'll single Seamus out as he loves spending time chatting to fans after the home games. I remember he came out about 5:30 after one match and was still there when I and my son left at 7 – great guy, nailed-on legend. 💙

Joe Hurst
12 Posted 14/12/2023 at 16:40:11
My sister works at Alder Hey, I've always been so proud of the work she continues to do!
Danny O’Neill
13 Posted 15/12/2023 at 12:42:03
Seamus say everything that needs to be said.

Well done to the club for putting smiles on those kids faces.

And the cousins will do the same to their credit.

We can and should be proud of Alder Hey. Not just in the City, a nationally renowned institution.

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