Nottingham Forest supporters will set off red balloons at this evening’s Championship clash with Fulham to symbolise their love for the club.
Supporters’ groupย London Trickies have organised the event, on Valentine’s Day, in association with the fellow group the Forza Garibaldi.
Both are calling on travelling Reds fans to bring and let off balloons from the away end at Craven Cottage.
London Trickies say the stunt is about celebrating fans’ love for the City Ground club and to pledge support to the players and management team – at a difficult time following the collapsed US takeover of the club.
The away end tomorrow… ๐ณโค๏ธ
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐#NFFCโ London Trickies (@LondonTrickies) February 13, 2017
Organiser Simon Bristow said: “On the pitch itโs important everyone gets behind the team.
“Because this game is a London game, and as weโre the London Trickies, weโve tried to organise things.
“Hopefully people turn up tonight with their shirts on, scarves around their necks and fill the away end with red balloons to show the players weโre thinking of them.”
The London Trickies, run by five Forest fanatics, will let off around 200 balloons when the players come out of the tunnel and all travelling fans are encouraged to bring their own balloons, too.
Simon, 36, who used to live in Southwell, added: โAt the start of the game when the players come out, and weโre getting ready for kick-off singing Mull of Kintyre, weโll set off the balloons into the air and, hopefully, itโll look quite impressive.”
Before the game, Reds fans will meet at The Fulham Mitre pub, Dawes Road.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Through the good and bad
Forest, we love you
โค๏ธ๐ณ #NFFCRemember your ๐tonight!
๐ธ: @RedDogRoberts pic.twitter.com/4wnMsPM9sDโ London Trickies (@LondonTrickies) February 14, 2017
“Itโs about having a bit of positivity around the place when itโs been a bit bleak of late,” said Simon, “If fans meet up and have a couple of beers and chat about their love of Forest and when they started following the team โ it all helps that positivity.
“Weโll go into the ground and get a good atmosphere going to rouse the team.”
The pub is a stone’s throw away fromย Fulham Broadway tube station – which is a five-minute walk fromย the stadium.
Forest will be looking to secure their first away win under the reign of Gary Brazil and striker Ross McCormack, signed on loan for the rest of the campaign from Aston Villa, could start against his former side Fulham.
The Reds sit 17th in the Championship, seven points from the relegation zone, while Fulham occupy ninth place, six points adrift of the play-offs.
Simon says he expectsย the Reds toย bounce back from a disappointing 5-1 drubbingย at the hands of Norwich on Saturday, and continue their recent good form under Brazil; the Reds having won three of their last five games.
“I think weโre going to win tonight. Saturday was a blip; Norwich are a very, very good team with some really good players,” he said.
“Four of those goals wereย goal of the season contenders. I think theyโll bounce back tonight, Gary Brazil will get them sorted.
“As soon as the full-time whistle went on Saturday, I fancied us for Tuesday. Fingers crossed.”