Welcome To The World’s First Vegan Soccer Club

What the players do on their own time’s up to them. But the fact that it is vegan when they’re here is almost a way of educating them that they should consider their food choices.

JAMIE MILLAR: ‘Forest Green Rovers, which was established in 1889, is now the world’s first vegan and carbon neutral soccer club. Its solar-paneled stadium, the New Lawn, is located on Another Way in Nailsworth, a town in southwest England. With a population of just 6,000 — not much more than the ground’s capacity — it’s the smallest place in the country to boast a club in the English Football League, as the top four tiers of professional soccer are collectively known… Officially certified as carbon neutral by the United Nations last week after signing up to a scheme that requires the reduction or offsetting of all emissions, the club has found international publicity for its eco credentials, and has won fans in America and elsewhere…

All Forest Green’s players eat vegan when they’re at the club, or at hotels before away games. (Two clubs have put on plant-based menus for their visit.) “If the chairman’s paying then it’s got to be vegan,” said Tom Huelin, Forest Green’s fitness coach. “What they do on their own time’s up to them. But the fact that it is vegan when they’re here is almost a way of educating them that they should consider their food choices.” Players are often from lower socioeconomic backgrounds where eating healthy food is not always something that’s affordable or a priority. And at this level of the sport, the footballers are less likely to be able to afford to employ their own chefs’. SOURCE…

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