FRONTLINE staff at Victoria Infirmary Northwich said they were delighted after being given a generous donation of 100 facemasks.

Fans of Northwich Victoria Football Club heard about the national shortages in vital PPE and decided to step up and help their local NHS workers.

The idea was proposed by loyal trickie Colin Buckley, who asked other fans on Twitter whether it was something they would get behind.

From here the idea quickly took off, and after consultation with Buccaneer Sportswear which could source and print the masks, a design was created by the club’s commercial director, Paul Bazley.

This design incorporates the Northwich Victoria crest, NHS logo and the rainbow, which has become a symbol of support for people wanting to show solidarity with NHS staff on the frontline.

Instead of football club however, the masks feature the word ‘infirmary’, highlighting that both institutions founded in the late 1800s and have been central to the history of Northwich.

Northwich Guardian:

Co-ordinated by Colin, a fund to buy the face masks soon grew as offers of help came flooding in from fans, and the target was quickly raised thanks to their generosity.

Vics supporter Phil Harrison, who was one of those who donated, said: “It may only be a tiny ripple on the pond of the fight against this terrible pandemic, but I’m glad to have been part of those who threw the stone - brilliant work trickies.”

The club’s vice chairman Ian Egerton commented: “Absolute class act from a class set of fans to an unbelievable group of special people that make up our very proud NHS.”

The masks were presented to the infirmary and gratefully received by Julie Smith, Lorna Hitchenson and Jane Baker.

Adding their delight with the quality and design, they said: “These will be a great asset for the infirmary and it’s brilliant that this historic football club, and especially its supporters, are thinking of ourselves at this traumatic time.

“It’s heart-warming knowing that the general Northwich community are backing the tremendous work that all in the NHS are doing at the moment “