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You’ve heard of the world’s first vegan football club, Forest Green Rovers, now it’s time to meet the cricket club following in their footsteps -Earley Cricket Club.
In a bid to be “more inclusive of dietary and lifestyle requirements”, Reading-based cricket club Earley Cricket Club has decided to ditch animal products from its match teas and serve a fully plant-based menu after its chairman went vegan and found that match teas weren’t suitable for those following a vegan diet.
Inspired by their chairman’s decision to go vegan after seeing how accessible a vegan lifestyle can be, four of the players have also taken the plunge and gone vegan too.
Not content with switching to a vegan-only menu, the club is also putting pressure on the world organisers of cricket to allow them to change the cricket ball from a leather one to synthetic leather balls.
Praise
Keen to promote inclusivity, sustainability and compassion towards, homemade vegan dishes such as curries, pizzas, stir-fries, spaghetti Bolognese, tortilla wraps and even sausage and mash with veg and gravy will be served as standard at the club, and it’s even been winning praise from visiting teams.
Earley Cricket Club Chairman Gary Shacklady said: “With a fully vegan match tea, we can cater for all dietary and lifestyle requirements. The teas have been well received as our players understand and support the reasoning behind the decision.
“Many of them do not follow a vegan lifestyle away from the club but are increasingly aware of the issues around meat, dairy and egg consumption, and have made efforts to reduce it.
“Visiting teams have praised our teas and the plates tell the full story – each week they are piled up high, then emptied very quickly. The only complaints are about the need to resume a cricket match with a stomach full of delicious vegan food!”
Healthier society
Dominika Piasecka, spokeswoman for The Vegan Society, said: “We love to see organisations make a real difference and a vegan menu benefits both animals and humans.
“Offering plant-based food as default is inclusive, cheap and convenient, as well as contributing to a healthier society and more sustainable food choices that don’t harm others.
“We hope other clubs and organisations will follow Earley Cricket Club’s decision to switch to an all-vegan menu for everyone’s benefit.”
