Greens brigade... Scots football club goes veggie
FOR many fans, it is often the highlight of the game – a greasy pie and a lukewarm Bovril after an uninspiring first half.
But f or the players of one Scottish football club, meat is very much off the menu.
Greenock Morton have followed their manager’s example of going vegetarian – in an effort to boost their performance on the park.
And boss David Hopkin said the benefits are already showing as he has never worked with a fitter squad.
Hopkin, whose side play in the Scottish Championship, gave up eating meat two years ago and is certain it has made hi m healthier. He began t o change t he players’ diets l ast season by gradually taking meat off the menu. Now Hopkin, a former Scotl a nd i nternational, has scrapped all meat from the Morton dining room for players and staff. He said: ‘We’re probably the first club in Scotland to go vegetarian. We don’t eat meat at all during the week at the club.
‘We changed the diet about six weeks ago. We are all on a strict vegetarian diet when we eat at the ground and all the boys have bought into it.
‘We are feeling the benefits and we all feel great. I’ve got a fully fit squad of 22 players – it’s the fittest they’ve been. I haven’t eaten meat for two years and I feel fine.
‘Last year we introduced some changes with only fish and vegetable dishes but now we’ve decided to go full vegetarian.’
It’s not yet clear if Morton will also change the snack menu at their ground, which usually features mutton and steak pies as well as bridies and Bovril.
And Hopkin is not sure if the players are sticking to it at home. He added: ‘Some of the boys were a wee bit iffy to start with but we have a really good chef who’s making excellent meals.
‘I can’t see what they’re doing at home but they seem quite happy with the food at the club.’