WATCH: Football club's heartfelt message to NHS workers
Footballers have hit the back of the net with their new video urging people to thank our NHS heroes for their efforts during the coronavirus outbreak.
Cresswell Wanderers Football Club, in Bloxwich, near Walsall, wanted to pay tribute to hospital staff and workers out in the community.
Officials sought to relay an important message and also support their young players during this uncertain time by creating a video.
Vicky Mitchell-Blunt, the club's welfare officer, struck upon the idea to involve the volunteers and children who play and represent its respective teams.
Vicky, who also manages one of under 9s teams, asked all the children to do love heart pictures to represent their respect for the NHS.
They were edited together with messages from club managers and staff honouring the NHS and urging people to stay home to create the video, which is viewable on the club's YouTube channel.
WATCH the video here:
It started with the club's #JustABall campaign set up on the Cresswell Wanderers YouTube channel showing various football skills.
It encourages children to take part and challenge themselves during the lockdown.
Danielle Reade, who is the under 8s Cresswell Titans co-manager, said: "We wanted children to continue to look after their physical and also mental health of our players and others by being able to access free simple skills or drill videos for them to try at home.
"It was our main focus to keep children and adults moving through the use of our football base.
"All the videos are set up by volunteers at the club or their children who are involved in the club too.
"Even though initially we set up the campaign for the lockdown period we will be continuing it even after this."
The club has 17 teams across Cresswell, from mini kickers to a women’s side.
They involve more than 300 children, 15 in the current ladies squad and 51 volunteers.
The club said: "The video was created to thank our NHS for all the hard work they have done over the lockdown.
"We are lucky to be a united group of volunteers and players at Cresswell and it didn't take very long before videos and pictures were coming in to help assist with the overall end result.
"We wanted to show how grateful we are and to reciprocate the important message about staying in at home."
