Forest Green Rovers win 'Elite Organisation of the Year' at 2023 BBC Green Sport Awards

Forest Green Rovers were among the winners at the 2023 BBC Green Sports Awards thanks to their efforts to become the world's first carbon neutral football club.

The League Two club have long been heralded as one of the most climate conscious football clubs in the world thanks to their owner Dale Vince.

Forest Green Rovers were labelled the "greenest club in the world" by FIFA back in 2017 and became the first ever United Nations'-certified carbon neutral club one year later.

That fantastic has continued in recent times, with Forest Green being seen as pioneers in the climate conscious football space - a space that has garnered much more awareness over the last few years thanks to organisations such as 90min partners Pledgeball, Football For Future and Sport Positive.

The club have been now been given the 'Elite Organisation of the Year' at the second ever BBC Green Sports Awards for their ongoing commitment to reducing football's impact on the environment. The nominations committee cited their reasoning for giving the award to Forest Green as:

"Forest Green Rovers lead the way in sustainably running a sports team and show that an entire organisation can be environmentally sustainable if you design it right. With a new stadium on the horizon, Forest Green Rovers will continue to be at the forefront of sustainability in sport."

Speaking to BBC Sport after receiving the award, club owner Vince expressed his gratitude at the recognition: "It's a good feeling and it's a good example of something that helps to propel us. There's recognition around the award and it helps to carry our message around the world.

"It's all part of our progress. In every sphere of life, we have to change and we have to green up, so sport isn't immune from that. But, at the same time, sport has a unique place in our lives and an opportunity - it is influential."

Among nominees for the Grassroots Organisation of the Year nominees - an award won by Rhino Cup Champions League - were 90min partners Pledgball. Listen the latest episode of 90min and Pledgeball's podcast series "Football's Climate Conversation" to find out more about the brilliant work that the team do.