Nottingham Forest will face Derby County at Pride Park next Saturday and ahead the latest instalment of the fierce East Midlands’ rivalry, Derbyshire police have called on supporters to play their part by staying away.
The Pride Park meeting with be the first ever league showdown to be played behind closed doors, and the police, along with Derby County, are urging fans not to congregate outside the stadium as part of the Football League’s ‘When we play, please stay away’ campaign.
Derby also say there will be extra security measures in place to ensure the new regulations are adhered to ahead of the 12:30pm kick-off, which is being broadcast live on Sky Sports.
“It has been a long time since we had any football to enjoy and I can absolutely understand that some fans may wish to attend either Pride Park, or other gatherings, to remotely cheer the team on or even see old friends,” said the Rams’ dedicated police officer Roger Brown.
“The return of football is something to celebrate but it will also be bittersweet. We have all sadly lost friends and family from the Derby County fanbase - a community we support and engage with week-in, week-out, and our thoughts are with everyone that has lost loved ones to this virus.
“It is with those people in mind that I ask every one of you to remain home to support your club. Derby County and the EFL have put in place stringent testing and safety procedures to ensure we are able to watch the team again, and the last thing we want is for that good work to be undone.
“So please - be proud, support the team but stay at home, stay alert, help control the spread and, most importantly, save lives.”
