Fans to take on London Marathon before FA Cup match

Sunday promises to be a big day for Nottingham Forest fans going to the FA Cup semi-final - especially those running the London Marathon before kick-off.

A number of hardy Reds fans are gearing up to take on the famous race through the capital in the morning, then hotfoot it to Wembley to watch the clash against Manchester City.

The 26.2-mile (42.2km) challenge starts at 09:35 BST for general entrants, with the semi-final starting at 16:30, leaving little time for stitches and mishaps.

Eager runners and charity fundraisers say they hope the marathon and Forest's epic cup run end in triumph all round.

Liberty Flint is running the London Marathon for the second time and will be joined by her boyfriend Matt, father Mark and friend Ellie in taking on the challenge before heading to Wembley.

The 27-year-old, from West Bridgford in Nottinghamshire, said they had raised more than £7,000 for a children's cancer charity already, and were hoping for more success on Sunday.

"It will be an incredible day all in all if Forest win and we complete the London Marathon," she said.

"Hopefully it's a great day for everyone, and hopefully we get to the final and another trip to Wembley - but no marathon before that one."

While all four runners - who all have season tickets for the City Ground - are hoping to make good times, Ms Flint said no-one would be left behind if they ran it close to kick-off.

"We should hopefully be finishing the marathon if all goes well about [15:00], so we'll have about an hour and a half to get from the finish line into Wembley, fingers crossed," she said.

"It's going to be a rush, but I think the adrenaline will get us going through the day.

"We won't leave anyone behind - we'll all go together, because we've all been training together."

Mick Greener, from Nottingham, will be doing his fourth London Marathon on Sunday.

The 29-year-old teacher said he hoped to run the race in about two hours and 45 minutes, which would give him time to "to get a shower and get up to Wembley for the game".

"Obviously, I've had the marathon in the diary for a while and when Forest made the semi-final and it fell on the same day, it didn't click," he added.

"My first thought was 'that's annoying' because I wanted to be in Nottingham for the game, not in London.

"Then I thought I just might be able to get tickets, and I did, so it's looking like it will be a great day."

Andy Aiston will also be running the marathon before joining other Forest fans heading up Wembley Way.

The 30-year-old, from Giltbrook in Nottinghamshire, said he was shocked when both events were set for the same day, but is hoping to complete the race in under three hours to give him as much time as possible to make the match.

"I hope it's going to be a brilliant day for me and for Forest," he said.

"It could either be the best day ever [if] I do the marathon and then Forest win, or it could be absolutely tragic because the marathon goes completely pear-shaped and Forest lose.

"It feels like a bit of a gamble really but I just have to do it really, given that I'm already there.

"My target is to do it in under three hours which should mean I get over the finish line at about 12:30 or 12:45 so I've just got to basically get all my stuff, see my wife at the end of it, [and] sort of enjoy the moment."

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