Nottingham Forest’s new community initiative, Magic Moments, enjoyed a memorable debut at the City Ground on Sunday as 50 incredible individuals from Teenage Cancer Trust and Switch Up – including youngsters, families, and carers – were treated to a day they’ll never forget as they watched Forest beat Brentford.
Championing the initiative is Club owner Evangelos Marinakis, whose personal commitment to uplifting those within Nottinghamshire has driven the creation of Magic Moments. The programme will see 30 tickets for every home Premier League fixture gifted to children and young people who face illness, hardship, or vulnerability, ensuring they can share the excitement of matchdays at the City Ground.
The afternoon’s guests arrived two hours before kick-off, where they were greeted by Club staff and each received the gift of a Nottingham Forest home shirt to wear proudly throughout the day. Soon after, they were in prime position to welcome the Forest players as they arrived at the stadium, offering high-fives and words of encouragement as the squad stepped off the team bus.
From there, the group enjoyed a walk through the iconic players’ tunnel and posed for pitchside photographs, before soaking up the electric pre-match atmosphere.
After cheering on the Reds from their seats, the day concluded with a truly special moment as the guests met Evangelos Marinakis and goalscorers Chris Wood and Dan Ndoye after the final whistle. They enjoyed time for photographs, autographs, and conversations about the match – the perfect way to round off a memorable experience.
The on-pitch action matched the magic off it, as the Reds produced a thrilling display to claim a 3-1 victory over Brentford. The win ensured that all attendees were treated not only to a special day behind the scenes, but also to an exciting afternoon of Premier League football at the City Ground.
Switch Up, a Nottingham-based organisation, works to empower the city’s young people to break the cycle of offending, reoffending, gangs, and criminality through mentorship, physical training, and positive activity.
Switch Up Founder and CEO Marcellus Baz said on the day: “This is absolutely magic and an unforgettable experience for these kids. I would say 80% of them have never been to a football match, and already they are going to remember this moment for the rest of their lives. This initiative is absolutely fantastic – it's giving back to those that wouldn't otherwise experience something like this. This is about compassion, community, and action. Hats off to Mr Marinakis for doing initiatives like this for people that otherwise would have been forgotten.”
Teenage Cancer Trust supports young people diagnosed with cancer, ensuring they receive specialist care and emotional support throughout their journey.
Ali, whose stepdaughter Ezmay is currently receiving care through Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “It was absolutely amazing – we got to see the ground, the changing rooms, and we met the players. It’s been incredibly special. You're not guaranteed to have these moments again, and you’ve given us – me especially – a memory for a lifetime, so thank you. Football clubs are so important to people and it’s so important that they support local kids. He's [Evangelos Marinakis] absolutely fantastic and he's going to take us to the top.”