As Burnley celebrates its return to the Premier League, another quiet revolution occurs on and off the pitch. Club captain, Josh Brownhill, a midfield dynamo and respected leader, is set to become the Premier League’s only vegan player. This status reflects not only his commitment to personal health and performance, but also to the planet.
Josh switched to a vegan diet in 2021, driven to optimise performance, speed up recovery, and align his lifestyle with growing environmental awareness. While plant-based diets in elite sport were once considered a fringe choice, Josh’s journey is part of a rising trend among top-level athletes seeking longevity and a competitive edge.
“It’s about fuelling my body the right way. I recover quicker, I feel lighter, and I know I’m doing something good for the planet too”
Josh joins a growing list of elite vegan or plant-based athletes like the seven-time world F1 champion Lewis Hamilton. Lewis is a passionate vegan for ethical and environmental reasons and invests in plant-based businesses. Tennis legend Venus Williams adopted a vegan/raw diet to manage autoimmune disease. At the same time, legendary sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis credits part of his peak performance to a vegan diet.
Scientific research increasingly supports what athletes like Josh are experiencing firsthand:
- Reduced inflammation – speeding up recovery after intense matches or training sessions
- Improved cardiovascular health – boosting endurance and energy efficiency
- Enhanced focus and mental clarity – a key advantage in high-pressure situations
- Better gut health and digestion – linked to immune resilience and performance
These benefits support match-day performance and help extend careers, reduce injury downtime, and improve overall well-being. Josh has played in 40 of Burnley’s 44 Championship games this season finding the back of the net sixteen times, the best goal scoring return of his career. Beyond the personal gains, a vegan diet can have a profound environmental benefit:
- 50% lower food-related carbon footprint than omnivorous diets.
- Reduced land and water usage, vital as climate change strains global resources.
- Support for biodiversity, as plant-based eating reduces demand for animal agriculture, a leading driver of deforestation.
Back in 2021, Josh and I collaborated on a post-COVID content series aimed at giving back to the Burnley community. As part of the initiative, Josh handed over his social media channels to four local businesses, offering them a platform to share their stories and reach new audiences. One of those businesses was Riverside Deli, a beloved vegan deli that left a lasting impression while no longer trading. The campaign resonated deeply with fans and locals alike, ultimately earning Josh the 2021/2022 PFA Community Champion Award, a recognition given to players who go above and beyond in supporting their communities.
By leading in this space, Josh positions himself as a new kind of athlete: a climate and community-conscious competitor whose influence extends beyond football. With Burnley back in the Premier League spotlight and Josh captaining the charge, vegan and sustainability-led brands can align with an authentic, influential, and deeply values-driven voice.
