Gary Neville's testimonial at Old Trafford on Tuesday night will be the greenest match in football history after the eco-conscious star insisted on the entire game being powered by wind.

The 36-year-old, who hung up his boots halfway through the season, is famous for his sensitivity to the plight of the environment, and recently won a court order allowing him to build a futuristic £8m Teletubbies-style home specially designed to have a zero carbon footprint.

And he will showcase his dedication to the environment in the clash against Juventus, which will feature Neville's former team-mate David Beckham and recently-shamed Ryan Giggs. All energy used at the 76,000-seater stadium - from the power for the floodlights to the heating elements in the pie machines - will be provided by 52 windmills across the UK that are operated by a firm called Ecotricity.

"I have recognised in the last two to three years the need to make personal changes in my life and reducing my environmental impact is going to be a five-year transition for me and my family," explained Neville.

"Sport crosses all boundaries and plays a significant role in many people's lives. From my perspective we have to look at the effect sport has had on other issues over the last 20 years to see that when sport comes together with society, positive actions can happen."

Neville is expected to make as much as £2 million from the match - but he has already said that he will plough all of it into building a supporters' club and hotel for Manchester United fans.

Eurosport