FC stars play Santa on the children's ward
HULL FC players brought smiles to children's faces when they delivered presents to Hull Royal Infirmary.
Famous faces from the KC Stadium took time out to visit young patients on the children's ward.
They went bearing gifts including balloon animals, rugby shirts and posters.
One of the first patients they saw was Jay Pickering, nine.
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The Hornsea youngster suffers from cerebral palsy and is in hospital for an operation on his hip.
His parents Steven Bailey and Rebecca Pickering have been taking it in turns to be with him on the ward.
Steven said: "The hospital has been fantastic with Jay – both his operations have been a success and his consultant was amazing.
"I think it is really nice the players take the time to meet the children, especially at this time of year.
"We're hoping he will be allowed home this weekend, so he'll be home in time for Christmas."
Jay was given a shirt and a balloon animal Airlie Bird.
The players also visited Joanna Cragg, 11, of Bridlington, who was being visited by her mum Kathy Lintock.
They may not have been die-hard rugby fans, but Kathy joked that she was definitely a fan of rugby players.
Joanna, who was in hospital with an infected navel, said: "It was good they came in to the ward, it was something a bit different. I got a few things given to me, including a flower balloon, a signed shirt, a poster and a car sticker."
Tucked up warm in bed was patient Lemuel Tutu, seven, of Orchard Park.
His mum Ophelia said he had been admitted with abdominal pain.
She said: "He loves playing sports so this is a nice surprise.
"He loves basketball and football.
"The players gave him an Airlie Bird balloon and a shirt.
"We think he will be home in time for Christmas, so Santa will be bringing some nice surprises."
Little Jay Ashton, six, was on the ward for an operation on his tonsils.
The east Hull youngster was sitting with his mum Anna when the players arrived yesterday morning.
Anna said: "His brother is a massive Hull FC fan so he will be very jealous – he'll probably be pinching the shirt Jay got."
The squad who visited included Danny Tickle, Tom Briscoe, Kirk Yeoman, Brett Seymour, Tom Lineham, Ben Crooks and Jay Pitts.
On Christmas Eve, hospital staff are hoping for another special visitor.
They will be leaving a mince pie and a carrot on the hospital roof for Santa and Rudolph.
Pictures will be uploaded onto Hull Royal Infirmary's Facebook page. Check out the page on Boxing Day to see if they were eaten.
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