Rovers' team of hospital winners

4:00pm Wednesday 20th December 2006

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BLACKBURN Rovers players said they were touched by the stories of children they met while handing out presents at Royal Blackburn Hospital.

The squad took time out from their busy training schedule to visit the children's unit at the hospital yesterday.

The visit has become a Rovers tradition and saw stars including Robbie Savage, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Ryan Nelsen mingle with children, parents and staff.

Goalkeeper Brad Friedel handed over a Fisher Price kit to Declan Maiden, aged one-and-a-half, who had been admitted to hospital with a wheezy chest.

Friedel said: "I am a father myself and I think this is the last place you would want your kids to be in the holiday time.

"If I can bring a smile to their face than that is great."

Declan's mum, Gemma, 21, of Walter Street, Oswaldtwistle, said: "We are overwhelmed. All the family are Rovers fans."

Defender Ryan Nelsen said it was "fantastic" to see the children.

After meeting five-month-old Jenna Price, who was in for tests for low body weight, he said: "It must be pretty hard for the parents to be with their children in hospital at this time of the year.

"A lot of us have families and when you have kids it brings it all into perspective."

Striker Paul Gallagher, 22, spent a lot of his time at the unit speaking to the grandparents of Nicholas Robinson.

The three-year-old old, from Great Harwood, was diagnosed 14 months ago with Alpers disease, a terminal and degenerative brain condition.

The Rovers star said: "I have a daughter myself so it is a bit touching.

"It is not a nice time to be in hospital when they could be with their families.

"It moves you particularly when you have kids. It shows how much they mean to you."

Rovers fans Mark and Vicky Hartley's daughter Rebecca was in the unit with pneumonia.

The couple, who live in Cravens Heath, Blackburn, said they had bought her a Robbie Savage shirt - and she had now had her picture taken with the man himself.

Vicky said she was thrilled to meet her favourite team member.

She said: "It was fantastic. The best thing Mark Hughes ever did bringing him to Blackburn."