As traditional at this time of year as mince pies, tree decorations and football fans in appropriately coloured Santa hats, Chelsea players from our men’s, women’s and Academy teams took time out from playing and training to spread smiles among those who are spending the Christmas period on hospital wards.
For our men’s players, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, a short journey along the Fulham Road from Stamford Bridge, was the destination while Chelsea Women players headed for Kingston Hospital in their Kingsmeadow locality. From the Chelsea Academy, a group of young footballers returned to a hospital that had also been visited in previous years – Epsom Hospital which is a few miles away from the Academy’s base at Cobham.
On the wards, the players chatted, had photos taken and played games with patients who were also handed seasonal gifts provided by the Chelsea Foundation as part of The Magic of Blue campaign, which is tackling isolation at this time of year.
There was also the chance to view sensory play walls in each of the three hospitals which are the result of donations players made the previous year.
Take a look at the photos in our gallery below to see more from the Christmas hospital visits…