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We were incredibly proud to partner with Health Innovation East Midlands, the Nottingham City Place-Based Partnership, Thriving Nottingham and SISU Health to bring life-saving health checks directly to the City Ground during our recent Premier League home fixture against Fulham.

For many of our supporters, a matchday is a ritual – a time for family, friends, and football. By introducing SISU Health Stations into the Fan Zone, we aimed to “meet people where they are,” removing the traditional barriers that often prevent people from accessing routine screenings.

The data captured by the SISU mini-stations highlighted a significant public health challenge:

• Two-thirds of participants recorded high blood pressure.
• Over 80% were flagged as overweight or obese.
• Nearly 70% of those checked triggered a recommendation to follow up with their GP.

Colin Eley, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said: “Our goal is to use the unique appeal of Nottingham Forest to engage with people who might not typically prioritise their health. By bringing these stations to the City Ground, we’re not just providing a service; we’re starting vital conversations. 

Seeing so many fans take ten minutes out of their matchday to check their vitals shows that there is a real appetite for this. It’s about early detection and ensuring our supporters are here to cheer on the Reds for many years to come.”

Crucially, these health checks were the first step in a longer journey. Throughout the day, fans were signposted to our Healthy Goals programme and community services. Funded by the Premier League Foundation, Healthy Goals is a free fitness and wellbeing programme available to adults and teens across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, designed to help the community make sustainable lifestyle changes in a supportive environment. 

Michelle Freer, Transformation Manager at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, said: “The fan zone had an incredible atmosphere, and it was fantastic to see so many supporters taking the opportunity to check their health.

Identifying people with high blood pressure shows how important these checks are, and we’re pleased to now support them with clinical advice and ongoing care.”

Supporters who used the station reflected on the value of having easy access to health insights in a familiar setting. For many, it was a wake-up call they didn’t know they needed:

One supporter, said: “Using the machine today has highlighted certain aspects of my health that I need to address. Having the Thriving Nottingham QR code there to scan was a great addition as I’ve signed up to their weight management service because of the SISU mini station.”

Another support, said: “I consider myself to be very active and healthy with the amount of running and working out that I do, but upon using the SISU mini station and noticing my blood pressure is a little high, it’s made me realise that I need to get it checked out by my doctor. I would definitely recommend people to use these stations, as you just never know what’s going on in your body.”

Following on from the Fan Zone health checks, one fan visited a community pharmacy the very next day and is now monitoring their blood pressure at home – a clear example of how a simple check-up at a football match can change a life.

We’re proud to bridge the gap between football and healthcare. Alongside the NHS and the Stroke Association, we are committed to making life-saving checks accessible to everyone.