Nottingham Forest have gone global! An act of generosity by the Reds after their postponed clash with Reading has made headlines around the world.
When Saturday’s Championship game against the Royals at the City Ground was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, the club made sure nothing went to waste and donated leftover food to local homeless charity Framework.
Almost 3,000 food parcels - including pies, pasties, hot dogs and bread rolls - were passed on, and the story has been picked up far and wide.
The news made it as far as Australia and America, making it one of Forest’s most far-reaching stories in recent years.
It is an initiative the Reds have undertaken before, and they also have a partnership with local food bank charity Hope Nottingham, all of which comes from the directive of owner Evangelos Marinakis.
The Greek sees the club’s role off the pitch as very important, and is keen for Forest to help the local and wider community as much as possible - a core principle which drives the board of directors.
American outlet CNN said of the weekend’s donation to Framework: “Forest's match against Reading was abandoned just a few hours before kick-off but the club had made ‘provisions’ to avoid waste.
“Forest told CNN Sport that this was something they have done before when games were cancelled but that Saturday's action had been more planned.
“We were trying to make the best out of the situation when the game was cancelled,’ the club said.
“Forest's CFO Samantha Gordon and Community CEO Graham Moran even ‘jumped into a van’ to help deliver the food.”
“These kind of initiatives are of paramount importance to Nottingham Forest Football Club, coming straight from our owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is a great believer in working in the community to help the area improve and grow," club director, Jonny Owen said.
“By donating these food items, we were able to help those who need it most in the Nottingham community, those people who are at the sharp end of homelessness, as we continue to try and tackle the issue in the city,’ he continued.”
Australia’s FTBL Life reported: “After their fixture clash with Reading FC was postponed on the weekend, English Championship side Nottingham Forest FC have ensured that they made the most of the situation, donating around 3,000 food parcels to a local homeless charity.
“The Midlands club have received immense praise for their generosity, acting fast to deliver the food items to local charity Framework after their match with Reading was called off when heavy rainfall left the pitch of their home stadium, the City Ground, entirely unplayable.”
National media in the UK also covered the story, including Sky Sports, the BBC and Talksport.
