YouTube video and pictures of community event
AFC Wimbledon’s first-team players and staff provided festive cheer for children at St George’s Hospital in Tooting yesterday by surprising them with early Christmas presents.
In a gesture that earned high praise from parents and hospital staff, Dons players made it an extra special day for children in the Grosvenor Wing by delivering their own gifts and memorabilia from the club shop.
gallery also shows other photographs taken on the day by Paul Willatts. Our picture above shows the first-team squad and management at the event and our
http://www.youtube.com/user/AFCWimbledonTVA total of 15 first-teamers and management, along with Commercial Director Ivor Heller, were on hand to present the gifts and a You Tube video of the event can be viewed by visiting
The presents were paid for with money accrued through fines for first-teamers this season, though Neal Ardley added that players had added their own funds to the pot.
“Credit to the boys for doing this at a time when footballers do get a bad name,” Neal said. “We have a group of players and a club to be proud of and to see the children in there with smiles on their faces was brilliant.
“It is important to show that this is what we can bring to the local areas. This type of event sums up the club and its values.”
James Patterson was one of the patients who received presents from AFC Wimbledon and his mother Samantha praised the club’s efforts.
“James has had a three-hour operation on his hip and hopefully he will be fit again soon because he is having physiotherapy,” she said. “But it is absolutely amazing what the club has done today and James’ brother will be so jealous because he loves anything to do with football.”
.Christmas cheerAn article about the event was today published on the Richmond & Twickenham Times website and this can be viewed by clicking on