Football stars from West Ham United brought festive cheer to staff and patients during visits to King George and Queen’s hospitals this week.

At Queen’s Hospital, James Ward-Prowse, Maximilian Kilman, Andy Irving and Callum Wilson visited Tropical Lagoon children’s ward and Sunflower Suite chemotherapy ward, meeting patients, taking photos with fans and giving out gifts.

Members of the women’s team including Anna Csiki, Seraina Piubel, Eva Nyström and Halle Houssein joined later to meet patients, sign autographs and hand out West Ham presents.

At King George Hospital in Goodmayes, Jarrod Bowen, Alphonse Areola, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Freddie Potts visited our Heather, Holly and Dahlia wards as well as the Medical Receiving Unit and Children’s A&E.

Among those they met at Queen’s Hospital was Siobhan McKeon, 48, who has been receiving treatment for breast cancer for 10 years.

I’ve been a huge West Ham fan since I took my son, who is now 18, to see a match for his fifth birthday. I love to go to games both at home and away. It’s 90 minutes where I can forget everything, including being ill.

I wasn’t due to be here today, but the staff know me so well and that I’m a huge fan, so they told me West Ham were coming in as they knew what it would mean to me. I got really nervous to meet them and didn’t know what to say – I was gobsmacked for a change!

I got some lovely photos, they gave me a scarf and even recorded a video for my son.

Nine-year-old Lyanna and her father Joseph Rodrigueswere also delighted to meet the players.

Joseph said meeting the players lifted the whole family’s spirits and that Lyanna had previously been to see West Ham at the London Stadium for her birthday. 

Joseph said:

I’m a huge fan, which the players could tell as I had my West Ham jogging bottoms on, even though I didn’t know they were coming. It was a really nice thing to lift the spirits of the whole family.

Lyanna said:

Meeting the players was the best moment of my life! I play football at school, it’s my hobby, so it was great to meet some actual players.

10-year-old Andre Ndepele, who met the players after a blood transfusion, added:

It was really exciting to meet them. I play football too, so I spoke to them about that and what position I play, which is usually the goalkeeper.

Ceira O’Donnell, ward manager on Dahlia Ward at King George Hospital, is a big West Ham fan and was very excited to meet the players.

She said the visit lifted spirits at a busy and challenging time of year, giving a boost to patients, families and staff.

It’s wonderful to have West Ham players visit – it really lifts everyone’s spirits, especially for families who support the club.