Things will certainly look a little different when Nottingham Forest take to the City Ground pitch again later this month.
But supporters’ group Forza Garibaldi are helping to ensure it still feels like home for the Reds.
Sabri Lamouchi’s side will resume their promotion push on Saturday when they make the trip to face Sheffield Wednesday, more than three months after the season was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
All games will now take place in empty stadiums as fixtures are held behind closed doors for the rest of the campaign.
Forest will first run out on their own turf on Sunday, June 28, when they take on Huddersfield Town.
And Forza Garibaldi will ensure the players are well aware they are being backed from afar by Reds fans.
They tweeted: “For the remaining home games of the season, while the City Ground will sadly be without its supporters, we can now say that our flags and banners will be on display inside the stadium.”
It comes as supporters are able to purchase life-sized cardboard cutouts of themselves which will fill the stands, while video messages for the players and manager will be shown on the big screens on matchdays.
Greg Mitchell, co-founder of Forza, has spoken about the group’s work in our latest Garibaldi Red podcast.
“You wouldn’t do it if you didn’t enjoy it,” he said. “It’s not like a job, it’s something we’re passionate about.
“When you see the fruits of our labour, with the displays and things like that, it’s worth every minute.”
You can watch the full podcast on our YouTube channel, on Apple podcasts or on Spotify.
