The Nottingham brothers who reunite for Forest

For the Festive Fixtures, we’ve collaborated with Art of Football to hear directly from fans about what it means to be together during this point in the season.

First up, we hear from three brothers: Sam, Louis and Isaac, who grew up together in Nottingham, all supporting their local team, Nottingham Forest.

Nowadays, the three brothers are living away from the city, meaning that the Festive period is a consistent moment in the calendar when they are back together, in Nottingham and able to follow the action together.

The festive period is synonymous with journeying home to see your loved ones. There’s no better feeling than getting on the road or catching that train. Knowing the smiles you’re going to see when you get there and the days that lie ahead of you. We’re pretty sure there was a famous song written about it once.

For three brothers in Nottingham, it’s been no different, although some journeys are more protracted than others. Sam, Louis and Isaac Gosrani are three brothers who have supported and loved Nottingham Forest since the day they first learned what football was. One travelling home from Cornwall. One making his way south from Manchester. And the other from the back roads of Bolivia. Now reunited, they’re ready to spend another festive season back where they belong, with those who make them feel most at home.

Being one of three boys can be a dubious endeavour but there’s no sibling rivalry here. Competition and one-upmanship are the name ofthe game. But for the Gosrani family, having a constant love of football in their life has bonded them together in a truly special way.

We all know how life goes. As you grow up, you or the people you love move away and keeping that connection can be tough. Everyone gets busy and it sometimes days or weeks go by without checking in. But this isn’t the case for this family. By all accounts, the family group chat might be the busiest in the wider Nottingham area come matchday. A cordial hello, asking how everything is going, getting the niceties out of the way and then straight into rumours and predictions like they were in the same room.

December 26 – Boxing Day – is an opportunity for all three brothers to be back at the City Ground together; a date outlined on the calendar from the beginning of the season.

When the brothers paint a picture of matchday, you’d be forgiven for asking if there was room for one more. A chance to see old faces and catch up, just like you never left. A nod and a smile to the person either side of you as "Mull of Kintyre" starts sounding around the stadium. Three brothers together, ready to make another joyous memory. It really is what it’s all about.

Words by Josh Walker