If you think it looks easy front-of-house, or on the field of play, think again, it’s not; there are numerous things happening behind-the-scenes before that end product comes to fruition, just ask Simon Fotheringham, Commercial Sales Manager at Nottingham Forest.

Vastly experienced, and with a passion for most sporting endeavours, including that of NBA side, Miami Heat, the Forest man sees his experience roll right back to that of the late nineties, when starting out, as a Sales Executive, at Sheffield United.

It may not have lasted long at the Yorkshire club, but an opportunity to work at your hometown, sports club, be it in football, or otherwise, is more often than not, an opportunity too good a one to pass up – working for the two main sports clubs, well that’s something else indeed.

Simon though, has done just that, when between 2011 and 2016, he worked at the City Ground, holding posts of Commercial Account Manager, Sales Manager, and Commercial Manager, during that time, before moving across the River Trent, and to neighbours Notts County, taking on the position of Commercial Operations Manager, for a couple of years.

In returning to the fold, at Forest, a couple of years back, where he currently works, both diligently and successfully, with passion, he looks after, behind-the-scenes, that of the commercial drives of both the men’s, and women’s, football set-ups.

“When I was at Sheffield United, it was all too brief really,” began Simon, who spent a little over thirteen months at Bramall Lane.

“I got it though, as to why things worked out in the manner that they did there.”

The burgeoning love however, within Simon, who spent the next dozen years working in the retails sector, is that of a Red variety, even if he has added a little black and white into the mix; it’s all about the exposure though, and that really does count when it comes to the crunch in business and finance.

Some of what he learned, the contacts he gathered, including that of Showcase, from the other side of the Trent, returned with him to the Red side of the river when he returned in 2018, three years next month.

In being a Forest fan since childhood, Simon is well-aware, well-aware, and well-placed now to go through the machinations of the commercial slant in which the club takes.

“I’ve looked at everything from advertising, to sponsorship, to hospitality,” continued Simon.

“Anything that will bring a flow of revenue into the football club.

“I also look after the hospitality and revenue in regards the women’s team, but the day job, that is Forest me, and the sale of hospitality, and sponsorship packages, for next season because this (the pandemic) has been rather tough, for everyone.

“We’re dealing with things that we’re not, nobody is, used to dealing with, as well as dealing with the situation around spectator attendance, so there’s been many differing conversations, which were handled well.

“We just need to keep monitoring the situation and work towards that eventual return of some spectators.”

As for Nottingham Forest Women, Simon has been working quietly, and effectively, with Women’s Head Coach, Andy Cook.

Now though, and following what has been a stop-start campaign, for both men and women’s football, Forest ending their campaign with exit from the Vitality Women’s FA Cup away to Wolves Women; they’re now currently in the midst of a run of post-season friendlies, running through to late-May.

“The club, as a whole, support the women, but we’re always looking for sponsorship, advertising opportunities, which is critical to really,” explained Simon.

“Ultimately, I got involved with the women’s game because of my relationship with Showcase, which I’d gained when at County and, although it’s not my main job at the club, I love what I do with them, so it’s never a problem really.

“The aim though, moving forward, is to have the women playing at the City Ground, and they really deserve to experience that – it should have happened this season but, because of covid, it wasn’t.”

Interested in Sponsorship, Hospitality opportunities with Nottingham Forest Football Club, be it with the men’s, or women’s set-up, then email Simon Fotheringham in the first instance via simon.fotheringham@nottinghamforest.co.uk; meanwhile, check out the new-look Nottingham Forest website via www.nottinghamforest.co.uk

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFC Simon Fotheringham has worked with both Forest & Notts County.