In November, the Forest Green Rovers became the world’s first all-vegan football club. We popped down to their New Lawn home ground to see how fans are reacting to the new plant-based menu.

Football fans couldn’t get enough of the Q-Pie with mash and gravy, the “chicken” nuggets made with vegan Quorn, the juicy veggie burgers with chips or the spicy Mexican vegetable fajitas – and who could blame them?

Speaking of the club’s decision to adopt an entirely plant-based menu, Forest Green Rovers Chair Dale Vince said:

The meat and dairy industry … involves incredible animal cruelty and staggering numbers. … And, of course, … meat is bad for human health, being a major cause of cancer. Making these facts plain and demonstrating what a plant based diet looks and tastes like is an important part of our work.

The Green Devils are currently second in the National League, and in the video, Dale goes on to discuss how, for elite athletes, not eating meat can be a huge advantage. The growing list of top “no-meat athletes” certainly backs him up – it includes boxer David Haye, free-running champion Tim Shieff, Olympic cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, strongman Patrik Baboumian, squash world champion James Willstrop and ultra-endurance athlete Rich Roll.

More and more professional athletes are recognising that healthy plant-based eating supplies the protein and other nutrients that they need to build muscle and be fit, without clogging arteries with saturated fat. Whether you’re on the pitch or in the stands, if you’re feeling inspired to go vegan yourself, order your free vegan starter kit for tips, recipes and advice.