Cllr David Mellen talks about the victory at Wembley and what it means for the city.
The leader of Nottingham City Council, Cllr David Mellen said:
‘We were proud to welcome the Nottingham Forest team to the Council House today to formally congratulate them on their historic return to the Premier League.
‘They achieved a great victory in the Championship Play-off Final against Huddersfield yesterday, the culmination of an incredible season – and it is right that we took a moment to celebrate this remarkable achievement with people in our city.
‘Thousands packed into Old Market Square to watch the players lift the trophy on the balcony of the Council House. The sea of red shirts and scarves is a significant moment in our city’s rich history.
‘I’d like to add my personal congratulations to the players, the manager Steve Cooper and the owner Evangelos Marinakis. They lifted themselves from the bottom of the league. They never gave up; never lost hope; and they battled to the end. Their passion and commitment is an example to us all.
‘I am thrilled that the club has secured Premier League status for the first time since 1999. It means so much to everyone connected to the club as well as to Nottingham residents and to the many thousands of fans in the UK and around the world.
‘It’s early to be talking about the legacy of what the team has achieved – but what this means for the club and for our city cannot be understated.
‘Premier league football is watched by millions of people around the world. All eyes will once again be on Nottingham. Beyond the sheer pride and joy that promotion brings, having a team in the Premier League offers the local economy a huge boost.
‘There is also the huge legacy for the next generation of young sports men and women who will have watched Forest progress through the season, cheered their victory yesterday… and who were packed into the Old Market Square today to catch a glimpse of their heroes.
‘Make no mistake: this is a landmark achievement for everyone. Nottingham is a city of legends and this team rightly deserves to be part of that legacy.’
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