The moving messages Sunderland legends past and present have sent to city's 'heroes' working in the NHS

Niall Quinn, Peter Reid, Kevin Phillips, Martin Gray, Gary Bennett, Martin Smith, Gordon Armstrong, Michael Gray, Luke O’Nien, Gavin McCann and Darren Williams have all recorded special messages for staff working to keep the city safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Quinn told NHS staff they are the ‘heroes of Sunderland’, while O’Nien thanked them ‘from the bottom of his heart’.

The video was shared by the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and was the idea of football journalist Colin Young.

Young’s wife Lesley works in the A&E department at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

"Lesley is the proper worker in our house and it's hard enough even without what they're going through at the moment,” he said.

"She's been on night shifts for a month and it's been tough.

"I asked the players to send a message as I know that in the hospital, the vast majority are Sunderland daft and to hear from so many club legends would give them a real boost.

"All the players have been really touched by what the NHS is doing I knew the messages would mean a lot to the staff, so Lesley took it in to work with her and sent it round, and it seems to have done the trick.

"It was just my way of doing my little bit."

In the video, Quinn said: “An old friend of Sunderland here, just wishing all the workers at Sunderland Royal Hospital all of the best and to say how much you are appreciated and how heroic the deeds you're doing are. I read about it today and I'm so proud of you guys. You are the heroes of Sunderland these days and well a little bit of my heart is always there. It felt really great today to find out about all of that work that you're doing, the effort you are putting in for the people of Sunderland. It's quite amazing and that is why I loved it there so much because of people like you.

“So keep up the hard work, it is a tough fight but I know you are going to get there and stay safe yourselves.

“All the best and see you soon.”

Reid added: “I can't really put into words what it means to see such dedicated people caring in this time of crisis. This virus is absolutely terrible.

“I've got a lot of love for Sunderland, great part of the world, thankyou so much for everything you are doing for the people.

“The North East is a great area, stay safe. Lots of love to all of yous who work in the NHS, especially Sunderland cause I got my red and white shirt on!”

Current fan favourite Luke O’Nien said: “The work you guys are doing is simply incredible, you guys are our heroes and from the bottom of my heart I thank you all.”