Nottingham Forest supports Linden Lodge patients' rehabilitation | Latest news

Nottingham Forest was delighted to recently welcome lifelong supporters Mark McMahon and Nathan Croft to the City Ground for a special Museum and Stadium Tour to support their rehabilitation journeys following serious injuries.

Both are currently patients at Linden Lodge, a specialist neurological rehabilitation unit at Nottingham's City Hospital. The unit aims to help patients recover following a life-changing illness or injury to improve their quality of life as much as possible to support them to return home or move into a care environment. 

Mark is recovering after suffering a traumatic brain injury and Nathan is currently undergoing rehabilitation to strengthen his legs following surgery for a fractured femur. 

The fans were invited for a private tour as part of their occupational therapy (OT) to help aid their recovery, navigating to the City Ground by public transport and negotiating their way around the stadium. This allowed them to put the skills they have been learning in their OT and physiotherapy sessions into practice in a safe environment, and to support skills needed in the community. 

Led by one of the Club’s expert Stadium Tour Guides, the pair and supporting Linden Lodge staff were taken on a behind-the-scenes journey through the club’s rich history, exploring areas including the newly renovated Boardroom, Media Centre and the Forest Museum, before following in the footsteps of their footballing heroes by seeing the world-famous City Ground from pitch level.

This is the second time the Club has partnered with Linden Lodge and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust to aid supporters’ rehabilitation. Earlier this season, we also welcomed Season Card Holder Harvey Trout to the City Ground, who suffered a life-changing brain injury following a fall after the Reds’ fixture against Arsenal in May 2023.

Patients and staff will soon be moving from Linden Lodge to the brand new 70-bed National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) which is currently under construction on the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate near Loughborough.

The NRC aims to transform rehabilitation through treating patients across the East Midlands, and through providing education and carrying out research in the field to benefit patients across the UK.

Will D’Hooghe, Nottingham Forest’s Head of Fan Engagement, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mark and Nathan to the City Ground to support their rehabilitation – we hope they enjoyed the day and we’re looking forward to seeing them here again soon. 

"The work that Linden Lodge does is incredible and our fans are the lifeblood of our Club – we’re always happy to support them and the wider community in any way possible.”

Louise Elphick, Lead Occupational Therapist at Linden Lodge, said: "This was a wonderful opportunity for two of our patients who are keen Forest fans and has undoubtedly contributed to their rehabilitation journey. 

"It was great to see how the prospect of the visit spurred Mark and Nathan on in their rehabilitation sessions. The process of navigating from City Hospital to the City Ground on public transport was a great exercise both physically and cognitively, and the tour allowed them to explore a different environment following their Injuries. 

"Days like this are really important – rehabilitation can be a long and difficult road, so the opportunity to return to the City Ground for an inspiring and uplifting day talking about their favourite team is very special. A big thank you to Nottingham Forest for their support."

Nathan Croft, 42, from Bramcote in Nottingham, broke his leg at home in March due to a rare medical condition he was diagnosed with last year. Nathan has been a Nottingham Forest fan since he was a child and goes to watch every home game with his two sons aged 8 and 11. He was therefore delighted to have the opportunity to have a stadium tour.

He said: "It was really good – the guy who took us round knew everything about Forest. It was great to feel back to normality for a bit. My two sons were gobsmacked that we had a stadium tour – one even said he wanted to break his leg so he could get to go!"