Hector Bellerin has become the second-largest shareholder in Forest Green Rovers. In an interview with The Athletic, the Arsenal star has revealed he has taken a minority stake in the League Two club.
Forest Green, owned by green energy industrialist Dale Vince, have been recognised by FIFA as ‘the greenest football club in the world’.
The United Nations have also certified them as the first carbon-neutral football club.
The Gloucestershire outfit serve vegan food at their stadium, their kit is made from bamboo, they have an organic pitch and are planning to build a new stadium made almost entirely from wood. Bellerin – a vegan who is passionate about environmental issues – said he wants to support their ambitions and ideals, which align with his own.
“Dale has revolutionised that football club — they’re vegan, they’re eco-friendly, they have a neutral carbon footprint,” he said.
“They’re a clear example of how to run a football club in our times so I wanted to be a part of it and offer my help to them in whichever way I could.”
Bellerin, who recently raised money to plant 60,000 trees in the Amazon rainforest, will work with Vince in a new relationship with the aim to help raise the environmental agenda in football among clubs, leagues and supporters. He continued: “I just felt it was the right thing to start a relationship.
“I’m going to help bring awareness to what they’re doing — helping marketing, helping PR, and helping create a network.
“I wanted to help in any way I could — they’re a massive example and they’re in League Two. They’re getting bigger and bigger every day. Imagine if they get to the Championship or something.
“It feels good to feel part of their family.”
Vince, chairman of Forest Green since 2010, said: “I like Hector’s approach, his personal journey and the things he’s trying to do – they make sense.
“I’m looking forward to working with him on FGR and this wider agenda we have a shared interest in.”
