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• To mark Windrush Day, the Club brought representatives from English football together to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation
• Guest speakers included Forest legends Viv Anderson MBE and Jason Lee, as well as representatives from the PFA, Kick It Out and more
• It was the second event held in conjunction with Leicester City, following a Black History Month celebration at the King Power Stadium in October 2024

Nottingham Forest hosted a Windrush Day conference at the City Ground on Thursday, bringing over 100 people from across English football together to celebrate the Windrush generation’s contribution to the game.

Held in conjunction with Leicester City and British Future, the event was attended by representatives from clubs, governing bodies, and community foundations. Through a series of panels, guests discussed heritage, the importance of the Windrush generation, and how football can continue to work together to ensure the game is inclusive for all.

It was the second ‘Past, Present and Possibilities’ event organised in collaboration with the Reds’ East Midlands neighbours, following a Black History Month celebration at the King Power Stadium last October.

It also follows the landmark conference which the Club proudly hosted alongside Harvard University and The Lilian Thuram Foundation in early 2024, exploring the issues of racism and gender inequality in European football, with the aim of driving positive change.

The day opened with a ‘Why Windrush Matters Today’ panel. Hosted by Reverend Clive Foster MBE – who was recently appointed by the UK Government as the first Windrush Commissioner – the discussion included representatives from the Windrush 100 Network, the PFA and Nottinghamshire Pilgrim Church, as well as football historian and author Bill Hern.

Former Forest striker Jason Lee then hosted a conversation with fellow Club legend Viv Anderson MBE – England’s first senior Black international – and Kick It Out’s Reon Stewart. The three discussed their heritage and the importance of celebrating the legacy of the Windrush Generation in modern football.

The third panel of the day featured senior leaders in diversity and inclusion, including representatives from Leicester City, Show Racism the Red Card and British Future. The group shared their thoughts on how football can continue to build an inclusive culture in which the Windrush generation would be proud to see.

The Nottingham Forest Community Trust then brought the day to a close by sharing the significant work that has been delivered to communities within Nottinghamshire over the past year.

Speaking on the day, Viv Anderson MBE said: “It’s really important to highlight the Windrush generation at events such as this. I was born and bred in Nottingham, and it was an opportunity for me to come back and talk about my experiences of being the first Black player to play for England. Celebrating Windrush Day is something everybody should do – the Windrush generation are getting older, and we need to come together and celebrate their legacy as much as possible.”

Jason Lee added: “This is the second event we’ve held in partnership with Leicester City – there’s rivalry between the two clubs, but it’s great to put differences aside and come together on important subjects such as this. People will often hear the word ‘Windrush’ without fully understanding why those from the Caribbean were invited to England to help rebuild the country, so I’d encourage people to look at the history. The Club should – and does – support important causes like this and there’s a lot of people behind the scenes ensuring current and former players are recognised appropriately.”

Windrush Commissioner Reverend Clive Foster MBE said: “It’s vital to remember the extraordinary contribution of the Windrush generation to Nottingham and the whole of the UK. Being here at Nottingham Forest, we had the privilege of hearing from Viv Anderson, Jason Lee and so many other great people from the footballing world. Celebrating them is a way of honouring the legacy which they’ve contributed to, and having opportunities like this where people can come together is a fantastic way of keeping the Windrush legacy alive. The role of Windrush Commissioner is about how we can change the narrative and, much like what’s happened today, how we can celebrate and remember the contribution of the Windrush generation.”