Flags are out for Forest, now let's give European visitors a warm welcome

COUNCILLOR WANTS TO USE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE CITY

- By JOSEPH CONNOLLY

BANNERS have been put up on Trent Bridge outside the City Ground in preparation for Nottingham Forest's first home European fixture in almost 30 years.

The Reds face Danish side FC Midtjylland on Thursday.

And, with just a day to go before kickoff, red posters bearing the Forest crest and the words “Europe Again!” appeared on lampposts near the stadium.

It comes after Nottingham city councillor and Forest fan Steve Battlemuch asked those with the jurisdiction to mark the occasion.

Midtjylland are expected to bring around 200 away fans to the game.

Councillor Battlemuch, who represents Wollaton West for Labour, told the Post last Wednesday that he had been “chasing (visual improvements to the area) quite a lot with the council for the past few weeks.”

Now, he has welcomed the appearance of the flags, with a post on X saying: “Eventually things are happening. More to come.”

He told the Post: “I welcome the fact that we're starting to make the area look and feel like the entrance to a ground that’s hosting European competition for the first time in 30 years.”

Forest have at least three home fixtures in the league stage of the Europa League this season, which, after Midtjylland tomorrow, will see them welcome fans from Portugal, Sweden and Hungary over the next few months, for games against Porto, Malmo and Ferencvaros respectively.