Players and staff from the men’s, women’s and academy teams spent time with hospital patients, handed out gifts and brought some Christmas spirit to fans and frontline workers alike.
As part of the club’s annual ‘United at Christmas’ campaign, first-team players visited hospitals across east London, including Newham Hospital, Queen’s Hospital in Romford, and King George Hospital in Ilford, as well as St Francis Hospice.
Jarrod Bowen, Alphonse Areola, Tomáš Souček, Anna Csiki, Eva Nyström and Seraina Piubel were among those who took part in the visits.
Men’s team captain Jarrod Bowen said: “It’s really important as a club, being a family-orientated club, it is what we pride ourselves on, looking out for everyone in our community.
“It’s a difficult time for people being in hospital at Christmas but if we can come here and lift their spirits, it’s a great thing.
“The work that the NHS staff do is also incredible, we met some lovely caring people who really enjoyed us being here, so to meet them was really special.”
Women’s team midfielder Anna Csiki said: “I really enjoyed visiting Queen’s Hospital today.
“I’m glad that we were able to put smiles on the children’s faces and give them some gifts ahead of Christmas, and to also speak and meet the staff who are working so hard during a busy time of year.
“It puts everything into perspective for us as players as well.
“It’s important that we give back and support our local community and I’m pleased we could do that today.”
Hospital leaders also reflected on the impact of the visits.
Anna Page, deputy chief nurse and site director of nursing at King George Hospital, said: “It was great to have West Ham United visit King George Hospital and spread some Christmas cheer for our patients and our staff, it really helps lift everyone’s spirits.
“I would like to thank the club for coming in and for their generous presents.
“We had lots of happy faces across the wards.”
Beyond the hospital visits, men’s first team head coach Nuno Espírito Santo surprised the Any Old Irons group—a West Ham fan club for over-65s—at their Christmas party at the Boleyn Tavern in East Ham.
Espírito Santo said: “It’s an honour to have met Any Old Irons, it’s important for me to meet the fans and understand them.
“So many of them that I met today spoke about our legend of the Club, Billy Bonds who means so much to the club, they were lucky enough to see him play for us and told me a lot about him.
“It was honestly a pleasure to meet fans who have supported us for so many years, have had so many different experiences, it’s been fantastic.”
The club’s academy team also supported the Ambition Aspire Achieve Newham Christmas Toy Appeal, donating more than £800 worth of toys for children across the borough.
All the activities formed part of the wider ‘United at Christmas’ campaign, which also included school visits, NHS staff hamper donations, and expanded night shelter provisions delivered by the West Ham United Foundation.
