Wigan Athletic provide boost for frontline workers

More than £2,000 has been raised from the club's academy, supporters and first-team players to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to many organisations across the borough.

And the Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been out and about passing on the much-needed supplies to those who need it most.

“Firstly, I would like to thank everybody who has donated to this cause; we know the 2,000 facemasks will be genuinely appreciated and the staff that have been delivering the masks have spoken of the gratitude from all of the recipients," said Royle.

“This is a perfect show of the unity required to thrive in the situation we are presented with.

"First team players, academy staff, staff across all different areas of the club and supporters have come together to donate to this cause.

“The excellent Wigan Athletic Community Trust have been out delivering these masks – thanks to the support of one of our long-term partners Westwood Motor Group – in a safe and responsible manner.

"And I couldn’t be more proud that our people continue to prioritise the health and wellbeing of our community during this challenging time.”

The club's involvement in the initiative began when Danny Fox donated to the initiative organised by his former Nottingham Forest team-mate Dexter Blackstock, with the defender helping deliver hundreds of items of PPE to care homes and hospices in his local area.

Latics supporters then continued to back the campaign via donations, with the support quickly raising £1,000.

And club staff topped those donations up by sponsoring academy strength and conditioning coach Mark Stone to row a marathon in his back garden.