A RUGBY treat has been lined up for Forces veterans in Erewash – with free entry to see Nottingham take on the British Army in the first game at the Championship side’s iconic ground since it was wrecked by floods.
The clash next to the Trent comes weeks after Storm Henk saw the river burst its banks and turn the pitch into a lake, sparking an urgent £50,000 clean-up appeal.
Erewash’s Deputy Mayor Councillor Kate Fennelly – who served in the RAF and is the council’s Forces champion – said of the side hosting the British Army on Friday 26 January:
“Thankfully the game looks to be still on after frantic efforts to get the pitch in a fit state.
“The showdown is a friendly but promises to be thrilling. And the great news for Erewash’s Forces veterans is they can get free admission – as can serving military personnel.”
Kick-off at The Bay in West Bridgford’s Holme Road is at 7:45pm.
Nottingham RFC is already more than a third of the way towards its fundraising target after what head coach Craig Hammond described as a “devastating” setback.
Footie neighbours Nottingham Forest and Notts County have been helping out by sending staff to aid the clean-up. Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club also answered an SOS.
Club director Chris Simon said: “There’s an enormous amount of work to do, but we’ll bounce back. We’ve had fantastic support.”
Serving and former military personnel can get free tickets using the code FORCES here:
https://nottinghamrugby.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/nottingham_rugby_vs_the_british_army
To donate to the flood appeal visit:
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nottingham-rugby
