Thanks to midfielder Funso Ojo and Vale supporters, we scored more green goals than any other EFL club on Green Football Weekend.

Port Vale were the top EFL club in the Green Football Cup on the Green Football Weekend, scoring almost 4,000 green goals! 

Green Football Weekend brought together 80 of the UK’s professional football clubs, fans, families and communities to unleash the power of football on climate change. 

Led by men’s first team midfielder Funso Ojo and supporters JackandHarry2, the Vale have been scoring green goals in the Planet League for many months and set the example for EFL clubs by making the top five of the Fan Leaderboard over the weekend, alongside some of the biggest football clubs in the country. 

The Valiants finished in sixth in the overall table, with only Manchester United, Leicester City, Leeds United, Chelsea and West Ham United scoring more green goals than the Vale to date. 

This weekend fans scored ‘green goals’ at Vale Park by bringing their plastic bottles in exchange for a branded reusable Port Vale bottle. Green goals can be scored by simple actions, such as eating a meat free meal, layering up instead of turning the heating down, exercising, taking a shorter shower or recycling. 

Staff from the Port Vale Foundation have been visiting local schools and delivering workshops to give local school children more information about the Planet League and what they can do to improve and protect the planet. 

Sandon Primary School have recently completed a six-week programme, learning more about going green and they have been nominated for a for a sustainability award at the 2023 Sport & Recreation awards for their commitment to protecting the planet. 

St Nathaniel’s Academy also enjoyed a visit from Vale defender Will Forrester who was on hand to talk about what he does day to day to help and improve the environment. 

Talking about the visit, Forrester said: 

“We don’t just want people to see us playing 90 minutes on a Saturday, we want to be seen in the community doing what we can and helping as much as we can. 

“As long as everyone does a little bit more to tackle climate change, then it all adds up to the bigger picture and I think we all have a responsibility to do what we can and help the environment as much as possible.” 

Rich Holmes, Head of Partnerships at Planet League, said: 

“Planet League is a tech platform designed to get football fans engaged in climate action. 

“Fans represent the football club they support and help to climb the table by taking simple actions in their every day lives that are good for the planet, scoring goals to help climb the table. 

“It is so important [to have role models like Funso Ojo involved];  the whole purpose of Planet League is to change behaviours, which is so hard, but through football we can do it through the passion people have for their football club. 

“When Vale supporters see someone like Funso doing it himself, it carries so much power and helps to influence people of all ages to make those changes. 

“There are clubs taking part that are not only massive clubs in this country but also massive clubs and brands on a global scale so to see Port Vale as the top EFL club, is incredible.” 

Port Vale midfielder Funso Ojo added: 

“I think it is a great initiative to create more awareness and education around climate action. 

“There is a lot more engagement in Planet League after the Green Football Weekend; we have seen it on the BBC and Sky Sports and I am happy to be a part of it, personally. 

“I am not the biggest green activist, but I try to do the best I can and I try to do what fits into my lifestyle. My lifestyle is already a green lifestyle and I try to do as much as I can, but not everybody has to do that. For example, if people stopped using single-use plastic and used reusable bottles, that seems a small change but it makes a big difference to the environment. 

“The biggest thing for me, though, is that people don’t stop scoring green goals and making those changes this week, after the Green Football Weekend has finished. If people keep doing this and scoring green goals, we will see a big difference and that is the main objective.”