Sean McLoughlin has hailed the work Hull City do in the community, saying it's why the Tigers have such a special place in the heart of the local community.

The club's extensive calendar of events throughout a busy 2024 came to an end with its annual food bank meal in conjunction with Hull Food Bank and its annual visit to the Hull Royal Infirmary.

McLoughlin, along with Alfie Jones and skipper Lewie Coyle visited the Acorn and Woodland wards at the HRI in the build-up to Christmas to spread a raft of festive cheer, meeting children and handing out presents, as well as posing for pictures and signing autographs.

"I think this is my first year experiencing this visit, to be able to come here and meet the kids and put a smile on their face, give them a few presents, it's brilliant," McLoughlin told Hull Live fresh from exercising his role as Santa Claus. "The hospital wasn't that busy, which is great, but we saw a few kids; we gave them a present and hopefully cheered them up a bit. Especially this time of year, coming up to Christmas, you don't want to see anyone in the hospital, so for us to be able to come in here and cheer them up for a few hours is brilliant."

While it was McLoughlin's first trip as Santa, skipper Lewie Coyle is a regular on such trips, and he says the players being out in the community and giving something back is vitally important and something to cherish.

"I've spoken about it before, the connection that we need to have as players and the club needs to have with the community (is crucial), so for us to be able to come in, interact with potential fans, people that are going to be in this community of Hull for a very, very long time, and if we can have a positive impact and put a smile on their face, make a difference in a positive manner, then that's just an unbelievable thing all around," he explained.

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"Probably for us interacting in this way when, unfortunately, they're ill, they're going through a tough time, and we're just up there having a normal chat with them, I think for them, they probably get a lot more out of that than seeing us play on a football pitch.

"As tough as it is for the kids, the parents are having to go through a tough time as well, so I think to interact with these people that are in need of a pick me up (is great). It's just a really, really nice visit and one that we enjoy doing every year."

McLoughlin says such visits are important, especially given the power and influence a footballer has on the lives of youngsters growing up and watching them play.

"We have a responsibility and the position that we're in as role models," the Irishman explained. "To be those role models to the younger generation, so that's coming in here and maybe putting a smile on their faces. I think the two lads (Jones and Coyle) have young kids themselves, and they know how difficult it is when your kids are ill. The staff and the parents all go through a lot of things, and ultimately, if we can come in and make the kids smile, that's the goal.

"That's what makes the club really special, the connection it has with the community," McLoughlin added. "There's many things that we do throughout the year with the Tigers Trust as so on, reusing the boots and that type of stuff. Credit to the club for looking after the community like that, and this is a small thing that we come here once a year around Christmas and try and cheer up some of the kids. Credit to the club and all the stuff it does for the community."

Fellow defender Jones is another who is regularly involved with community events, and so, too, the impressive work done by the Tigers Trust, City's charitable arm

"Things a lot of things bigger than football, and that's health, so to come here and get away from football and to interact with the kids and not just only the kids, the staff as well because they do a tremendous amount of work, it's great for us to show our appreciation to them as well and what they do with their little kids, and it's just amazing to see the smile on the kids' faces.

"I don't think they (Tigers Trust) get enough credit for the work they do and linking us and the community together and bringing the club and that community as a whole. It's unbelievable work they do, especially at a time like this."