A Horseradish
Saturday 13th February 2016 8:33pm [Edited]
8,475 posts
EXCLUSIVE:
Vegans are Heading For the Football League
When it comes to thinking about the hot bed of football, the county of Gloucestershire doesn't readily spring to mind. However, its representation in the Football League is about to increase from zero to two. Cheltenham - from the town of international spies and in truth no stranger to league football - are currently top of the Conference and Forest Green Rovers are in second place many points above their nearest rivals. For those who would find it hard to place Forest Green, I can confirm that they are based in Nailsworth. As this is likely to add nothing to your general knowledge, I will add that Nailsworth is close to the Gloucestershire town of Stroud.
The club made headlines in 2011 when it introduced a ban on all red meat being sold at the club on health and ethical grounds. Then on 1 November 2014, it held the world's first vegan football match against Lincoln City. The event received support from Paul McCartney and Stella McCartney.On 30 October 2015 it officially launched as an all vegan club, presumably as a rainbow arced across its hallowed turf and local trees turned orange and purple.
At this point, the situation becomes more complicated. For anyone who is tempted to think that Forest Green are the sort of hippy loons that Cheltenham types have contrived to counter by fixing football match results in their own favour, Forest Green are known as the Green Army and - this is sinister - the Little Club on the Hill. Both these names in various ways imply that they are an Establishment mouthpiece concealed behind an array of eco-windmills. Meanwhile, Cheltenham who would be expected to play at the Fortress Ground or something similar are actually based at the implausibly named Stadium of the World of Smiles. Something is up with these two teams and as it may not be limited to saving baa lambs from the cleaver genuine football fans need to be told.
(from our own correspondent)