By Saul Cooke-Black

SNJ reporter Saul Cooke-Black visited the world's first vegan football club, Forest Green Rovers, to sample the new menu.

The club hit the headlines four years ago when it removed red meat from the menu, replacing the burgers and pies traditionally associated with the grub sold on football terraces, with locally-sourced, vegetarian food and sustainably sourced fish.

Now the Nailsworth-based club has stopped selling fish and replaced cow's milk, ensuring the menu is all vegan.

The decision has divided fans at The New Lawn and has been the talk of the terraces.

When first hearing about the move, I was worried there might be a lack of choice on the menu.

Why not just have vegan food alongside the other dishes and allow people to decide, I thought.

However, after eating at Forest Green for the first time before the match against Dover, my opinion changed completely.

There is, in fact, more variety of healthy food on the Forest Green match day menu than at any other football club I have visited.

I went along to the match against Dover with my brother, Max, who is vegan.

Usually when going to football matches, he is given the choice between a small and a large chips.

It was very different at FGR.

In the busy Carol Embrey suite, there was a healthy look to the food as hungry fans queued up in the rush to the big kick-off between high fliers Forest Green and Dover, placed second and third in the Vanarama National League, respectively.

This was only the second match since the menu had been introduced and there was a buzz of excitement as photographers snapped fans tucking into their chips and burgers.

Salads, dips and accompaniments were set out as fans took their plates and queued up.

I chose the double burger and chips and my brother had the Q-pie with peas, leeks and gravy.

Unlike the food at many football grounds, the burger was tasty in a soft sandwich bap.

It came with a generous helping of chips and salad to choose from.

My brother chose the Q-pie, cooked with ingredients supplied by club partners Quorn.

All of the food was well-cooked and presented.

The dishes were fairly priced.

Other choices on the menu included Mexican fajitas, sweet potato burgers, pizza and more.

A lot more variety than at the average non-league, or football league ground, from my experience.

Cake is clearly popular at half-time amongst the Forest Green faithful.

Fans queued up in large numbers for a choice of carrot cake, chocolate cake and more.

With a cup of tea (without cow's milk), it made for a perfect half-time break.

As we took our seats again for the second half, I overheard some fans discussing the new menu.

They joked they couldn't have a chicken pie, but they both agreed that the food is good at their local club.

For although meat isn't on offer, there is a great deal more on the menu than at most football clubs.

And the food on the menu is of the highest quality.

The football wasn't bad, too.