Brewers players spread festive joy during hospital visit

Burton Albion players and staff members have made their annual Christmas visit to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

First team players John Brayford, Steve Seddon, Sam Hughes, Deji Oshilaja and Joe Powell, along with Academy staff Keith Gilroy and Shaun Barker, all played their part in helping to spread festive joy around the hospital wards.

The team spoke with staff, signed autographs and gifted presents to the patients and their loved ones while visiting the Neonatal Department, Children's Ward, Paediatric Assessment Unit and Childrens outpatients.

McVities and Nestle donated goods for the players to hand out.

Club captain John Brayford said: “It’s always important to come see the patients and staff at this time of the year. It’s what we’re about as a football club and it’s the least that we can do as it also allows us to thank the NHS staff for all of their hard work throughout the year.

“It’s a great tradition here at Burton Albion and we’re always made to feel very welcome. We would like to wish everyone at Queen’s Hospital a happy Christmas.”

Nicola Nutter, sister in Paediatric Outpatients, said the visit really boosted the spirits of some of the young people on the wards.

She said: "The visit from Burton Albion Football Club is something that our staff look forward to every year. While hospital is not the place where these young patients want to be especially as we head towards Christmas, seeing the players gives them a real boost and it is so heartwarming to see the smiles on their faces.

"I want to thank the team once again for taking the time to visit and for all the lovely gifts, it really has made the day of a lot of the children, their families and our colleagues here that continue to work incredibly hard, even during the festive period."