They played with freedom on the pitch,
And they fought for freedom off it,
So when you wear the shirt remember what they did.
Our tribute to all those who played for Forest and served their country.
And they fought for freedom off it,
So when you wear the shirt remember what they did.
Our tribute to all those who played for Forest and served their country.
The five featured on the main banner represent a wider group who had their football careers derailed by war. Some of these brave men paid with their lives.
The ultimate sacrifice by individuals who were accustomed to a football pitch, not the battlefield.
The ultimate sacrifice by individuals who were accustomed to a football pitch, not the battlefield.
From left to right - Joe Mercer, Tom Peacock, George Hazard, Percy Ashton, William Fiske.
Joe Mercer was a centre half signed in 1910. He joined the Footballers Batallion that many professional footballers fought as part of.
He survived the war but died in 1927 due to respiratory problems caused by a German gas attack in wartime.
He survived the war but died in 1927 due to respiratory problems caused by a German gas attack in wartime.
Tom Peacock served in the Second World War in the RAF. He was a prolific inside left scoring 57 times in 109 appearances. He survived the war and retired from football soon after to become a headmaster in Mansfield Woodhouse.
George Hazard was the inspiration behind this display after a conversation with a relative of his last year.
Hazard, a Radford boy, never got the chance to play for the first team. He was called up to fight with the Sherwood Foresters and died in Flanders, Belgium in 1915.
Hazard, a Radford boy, never got the chance to play for the first team. He was called up to fight with the Sherwood Foresters and died in Flanders, Belgium in 1915.
Percy Ashton was a goalkeeper who signed for Forest in 1930. War ended his professional football career after 179 appearances for the Reds.
Ashton, you may recall, was the smiling face in our teaser for the display last week.
Ashton, you may recall, was the smiling face in our teaser for the display last week.
William Fiske, another goalkeeper, was a major signing from Blackpool in 1914. Before he got the chance to make his debut war broke out and Fiske was called up. He did eventually make 5 appearances while home on leave.
He died in 1918 at The Battle of Aisne.
He died in 1918 at The Battle of Aisne.
Many have asked about the colours featured in the display. These are the colours of the Sherwood Foresters in which George Hazard served.
This was (before being merged) the local regiment for Nottinghamshire and Derby - given the opposition yesterday we felt this was fitting.
This was (before being merged) the local regiment for Nottinghamshire and Derby - given the opposition yesterday we felt this was fitting.
The link continues from George Hazard through to Lance Corporal Kieron Hill who died in Afghanistan in 2009.
Hill was a huge Forest fan and served in the Mercian, the regiment which has absorbed the Sherwood Foresters. His image was in the Trent End for the display.
Hill was a huge Forest fan and served in the Mercian, the regiment which has absorbed the Sherwood Foresters. His image was in the Trent End for the display.
Finally - for now - we also wanted to pay tribute to those Forest supporters who have served in the armed forces.
Lining the front of the Trent End yesterday were 7 fans representing the Army, the RAF and the Navy.
We are so grateful to each of them for being part of it.
Lining the front of the Trent End yesterday were 7 fans representing the Army, the RAF and the Navy.
We are so grateful to each of them for being part of it.
