In order to receive money from the £2.5 million annual pot from the Football League Trust, clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two will have to show they are being green.

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The trust, which oversees community and youth development activities at the 72 clubs in the Football League, will look at environmental performance alongside existing criteria of community cohesion, health, education and sports participation.

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The clubs can qualify for funding to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds for their community projects depending on how much work they do across the different criteria.

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Clubs will need to show they are committed to the environment, are reducing their energy and water use and waste, tackling the impact of travel by staff and supporters and promoting green issues.

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A new partnership between the Environment Agency and the Football Trust will look at ways of improving the environmental performance of the clubs.

A number of teams already have green schemes ranging from Exeter City and Colchester's programmes of harvesting rainwater to water pitches to Carlisle's efforts to reduce waste by getting fertiliser delivered in paper rather than plastic sacks.

Bristol Rovers are chartering trains to take fans to away matches while Brighton and Hove are promoting park and ride schemes.

Grimsby Town have installed energy efficient laundry equipment,
Sheffield United are awarding local litter pickers with match tickets and Norwich City have a community recycling initiative.

Football League Trust general manager Dave Edmundson said; "Football clubs are at the heart of many communities and we want that heart to be green.

"Clubs can set a great example to other small and medium-sized businesses in their local community by improving their environmental performance.

"The funding a club receives from the Football League Trust will be linked to the work they do to reduce their environment impact, such as cutting energy, water and waste and their involvement in promoting green issues in their community."

The new scheme was being launched today at Exeter City Football Club, where green measures include installing water and energy-saving devices, using eco-friendly cleaning materials and housing a community waste recycling centre at the ground.

Exeter City's director of football, former Tottenham Hotspur and England player Steve Perryman, said: "It's important for everyone to consider the impact they have on the environment and football clubs are no exception.

"By looking at ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and by recycling as much as we can, Exeter City is not only acting responsibly but is saving money too."