FOOTBALLING hero James Beattie brought some early Christmas cheer to child cancer patients when he arrived with a sack full of presents.

The Everton striker hot-footed it to Southampton General Hospital from Saturday's match where he was substituted and his team lost 2-0 to Premiership rivals Portsmouth.

He was accompanied by his wife Sarah and they were visiting the Piam Brown ward in their role as patrons of the Sophie Barringer Trust.

It was particularly fitting that they decided to make the visit, as it was the second anniversary of Sophie Barringer's death from kidney cancer.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, former Saints striker James said: "I have just come from the game when we lost 2- 0. I know we didn't perform too well and you could be down in the dumps.

"But when you see the children on the ward, it gives you a different perspective," he said. "These children and their parents are all stars as far as I am concerned."

As new parents to three-month-old son James, the couple admitted seeing the young cancer patients had been especially poignant.

Sarah said: "Having a child is the most wonderful thing in the world - and you never expect they are going to fall ill. It must be heart-breaking when it does happen."

On the ward Sarah and James met little Abigail Bailey and her parents Andrea, 26, and James, 28. The 11-month-old tot has just returned from a hospital in Bristol where she underwent a transplant and received life-saving bone marrow from her four-year-old sister Lauren.

"It was lovely of James to take the time to come and see us - it meant a great deal," said Andrea from Gosport.

The pair also met Catherine Pointer, 14, from Fareham who is being treated on the ward for leukaemia.

The enterprising teenager has raised nearly £600 for the ward by selling fundraising bracelets and Sarah bought 20 to give to friends and family.

"I was feeling very tired so it was nice to meet James and Sarah, they are lovely," said Catherine, a pupil at Henry Cort Community College.

The Beatties admitted they felt honoured when Sophie's mum and dad, Lin and Mike, asked them to be patrons of the charity - and they are determined to play their part.

At the Beatties' wedding earlier this year, the couple requested no gifts but instead asked for donations to be made to the Sophie Barringer Trust - and they raised £7,000 in Sophie's memory.

"We donated our wedding gifts and that is just the start of what we want to do for the charity.

"We will do whatever we can to help Lin and Mike - they are truly inspirational.

"They have been through so much and yet they have still been able to raise thousands of pounds to help others," said Sarah.

The former Saints player met little Sophie when she went on to the pitch at St Mary's as a mascot and it was her hero James who held her hand throughout.

The sporting star would often pop by to see Sophie if he was near the family home in Eastleigh and the little girl idolised the handsome player.

He attended her funeral and carries a photo of Sophie in his car as a reminder of the special little girl who touched his heart.

"We were lucky enough to meet Sophie and go to her house several times. She really touched our hearts.

"I have a picture of Sophie on my visor in the car and at home as well - she was such a special little girl," said James.