Portsmouth FC bring joy to Naomi House
On Monday, we welcomed a very special visit from Portsmouth Football Club!
Professional footballers, Will Norris and Joe Rafferty, as well as team Manager John Mousinho and Sporting Director Rich Hughes, came to visit the children, young adults and families at Naomi House & Jacksplace.
The hospices were filled with festive footie cheer as the footballers played games with service users and gave out Christmas presents to everyone.
The footballers and Portsmouth FC staff posed for fun photos with each child and young adult. They also made time for photos with our hospice staff, who were big fans of the club. A young adult called Holly got the opportunity to take a group selfie with the football stars. Another young adult, who is a big fan of the team and a season ticket holder, was very excited to meet the footballers and could not stop smiling all day.
Will Norris, goalkeeper, and Joe Rafferty, defender, took time to play a friendly game of football with a brother of a child who uses our hospices. The sibling was gifted a signed Portsmouth FC football by our friendly visitors. Everyone also received a cuddly toy from Portsmouth FC which brought a lot of joy.
The football club also visited Naomi House & Jacksplace last Christmas, re-igniting a treasured annual visit from local legends.
Portsmouth FC Manager, John Mousinho, shared this about the experience:
We were delighted to visit Naomi House & Jacksplace to deliver presents and spread a bit of festive cheer. The hospices are fantastic and the work the staff do is incredible. As a team, it is an honour for us to be able to spend time with the service users and their families.
Claire Potterton, Play & Activities Team Leader at Naomi House & Jacksplace, said:
We are so grateful to Portsmouth Football Club for their visit. It’s moments like this that create fantastic memories that can be treasured by children, young adults and their families. The team really brightened the day and staff enjoyed the visit too.