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Three primary schools from Nottinghamshire had an unforgettable experience this week as they were invited to play on the pitch at The City Ground.

The unique opportunity, donated by the club’s partner Floki, gave pupils the chance to lace up their boots and play where the professionals do, bringing football dreams to life at a Premier League stadium.

Kirkby Woodhouse Primary from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottingham Primary Academy from Sneinton, and Arnbrook Primary School from Arnold all took part, with teams made up of Year 5 and Year 6 pupils.

As well as experiencing the thrill of playing at The City Ground, the children proudly wore official Nottingham Forest shirts gifted through the club’s Red Thread initiative.

For many of the pupils, stepping out onto the pitch at one of English football’s most iconic stadiums was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Scoring goals in front of the Trent End, walking through the tunnel, entering the pitch to ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ on the speakers, and wearing the badge amongst team-mates created memories that will stay with them forever.

It’s the kind of moment that can inspire confidence, spark ambition, and build a lifelong connection to Nottingham Forest.

Launched by Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, the Red Thread initiative delivered over 2,000 official club shirts to children across Nottinghamshire to inspire the next generation of Forest fans and provide kit to those most in need.

The initiative was designed to ensure that young people across the region, regardless of background or circumstance, had access to sportswear for PE lessons, training, and competitive matches.

Working alongside Nottingham Forest Community Trust, the initiative supported schools identified in areas of need and schools that engage with the Community Trust’s programmes.

This week’s play-on-the-pitch event saw those kits in action, worn with pride by pupils from all three schools as they made memories at The City Ground.

The three schools played each other in a round-robin format with Kirkby Woodhouse coming out on top and winning the trophy presented by Nottingham Forest Community Trust coaches.

It’s clear that the experience has left a lasting impression on the pupils as Jenson commented: “It’s been really emotional because I’ve grown up watching Forest.

“I am a Forest fan. It’s been really interesting playing on the pitch, as it doesn’t feel like a normal pitch.

“Scoring at The City Ground left me speechless, I couldn’t believe it.”

Luke Taylor-Hutchinson of Nottingham Primary Academy said: “It’s an amazing experience. They [the pupils] got to look around the changing rooms and play on the pitch, which was fantastic and to do it at such a young age is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“You guys [Nottingham Forest Community Trust] have been very accommodating. They’ve all had an amazing time, which is really nice to see.”

When asked about the receiving the kits, Luke added: “We are using the kit for all types of different events. The kids love it and every time they get dressed up to do anything, they all ask if they’re wearing the Forest kits. It’s really nice to see and it always puts a smile on their faces.”