CELTIC FC Foundation, the charitable arm of Celtic Football Club is delighted to announce that it has made a £12,000 donation to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

The Hoops first-team squad were in attendance at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children today to show their support and hand over the donation, as a result of the Foundation’s ongoing Christmas Appeal.

Celtic has had a connection with the Hospital for many years and the club was delighted to make its first Christmas visit last year to the new hospital at the Southern General site.

The players today handed over gifts on behalf of the club and the donation from Celtic FC Foundation will go to assist the great work of the charity.

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “We have been delighted to have had such a close relationship with Glasgow’s children’s hospitals over many years, and over this period have donated hundreds of thousands of pounds over many years to the magnificent work carried out. 

“We know that the hospital and staff provide an exceptionally high level of care to children in need and we are delighted to continue to support this work. We are delighted to make today’s visit, to support this great work and once again hopefully make a positive difference to some very deserving children at a time of year which can be very difficult.

“Celtic was established to help people in need and once again we are delighted to honour the ambitions of the Club’s founders.”

Kirsten Sinclair, Director of Fundraising at Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The children and their families were so excited to meet their heroes at the hospital today. We’re extremely grateful to Celtic and Celtic FC Foundation for making this special visit possible and for their invaluable support throughout the year.

“Christmas can be a particularly difficult time to be in hospital, but the players made sure that there were lots of smiles and laughs on the wards today.”

Celtic captain, Scott Brown added: “The players are delighted to be at the hospital today. We have always had a brilliant relationship and we’re pleased to support all the work which the hospital does.

“We know that this can be really be such a difficult time of year for the kids who are here and we’re just pleased to help in any way we can. Of course, we send all the kids and staff at the hospital our very best wishes for Christmas.   

“The hospital carries out such important work and provides such great care to so many kids in need and we are delighted to continue our support.”

Tony Hamilton, Chief Executive of Celtic FC Foundation, said: “We are delighted to continue our strong association with the hospital through today’s presentation.

“Celtic’s Christmas Appeal, which has generated this donation, aims to help people in real need and this is a perfect example of the positive difference which we aim to make.”