Nottingham Forest finally a shirt sponsor. From now until the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season, Steve Cooper’s side will be riding into battle with the ‘UNHCR’ logo adorning the front of their iconic Garibaldi red kit.
But what does UNHCR stand for? And who are Nottingham Forest’s new sponsors?
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is, to quote their official website, ‘a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.’
As such, Nottingham Forest will become one of only a few clubs in Premier League history to display a charitable organisation on the front of their shirt. Aston Villa donned the logo of children’s charity ‘Acorns’ from 2008 to 2010.
Perhaps the most famous example across European football, however, was Barcelona’s long association with Unicef. According to The Independent, the La Liga giants swapped Unicef for a lucrative £125 million deal with the Qatar Foundation a decade ago due to their mounting debts.
“We are hugely grateful to Nottingham Forest’s generosity and compassion in supporting refugees and UNHCR’s relief efforts around the world,” explains Charlotte Boyle, the UNHRC’s UK chair (The Guardian).
“Through this solidarity, (they are) sending a powerful message to families fleeing conflict that they will not be forgotten.”
“We are delighted that, for the remainder of the season, we will use the front of the famous Nottingham Forest shirt to tell such an important story,” adds City Ground chief Evangelos Marinakis.
“It will be an honour to display their name on our shirt in support of this important cause.
“I hope (our) fans will also be proud. We have chosen to highlight the work of UNHCR, in addition to the local causes our Community Trust supports. This comes at a time when the world faces enormous challenges in helping the most vulnerable people in society.”
When will Nottingham Forest wear their new shirt?
Forest will begin their partnership with UNHCR on New Year’s Day, as Chelsea travel to the City Ground. As such, they will remain sponsor-less for the trip to Manchester United on December 27th.
The two-time European champions are currently 18th in the Premier League table. They have won just three out of 15 games since promotion.
Nottingham Forest did, however, reach the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup in midweek. A 4-1 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers set up a last-eight clash with Wolves.
Julen Lopetegui’s side will take on Forest in the East Midlands on January 10th. Win, and Forest could set up a semi-final clash with Manchester City, Manchester United or Newcastle.
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