CHICHESTER, England – The football world is in mourning following the tragic death of Billy Vigar, the 21-year-old former Arsenal and Chichester City striker.
Vigar passed away on Thursday after sustaining a “significant brain injury” during a match last Saturday.
The devastating incident occurred during an Isthmian League match against Wingate & Finchley when Vigar reportedly collided with a concrete wall while attempting to prevent the ball from going out of play.
The match was abandoned after 13 minutes as medical staff attended to him before he was airlifted to a hospital.
Vigar was placed in an induced coma and underwent an operation on Tuesday to aid his recovery, but the injury proved too severe. In a statement, his family said, “The responses to the original update show how much Billy was thought of and loved within the sport. His family are devastated that this has happened whilst he was playing the sport that he loved.”
A graduate of the Arsenal academy, Vigar had also spent time on loan with Derby County and had spells with Hastings United and Eastbourne Borough.
Tributes have poured in from across the football community, with Arsenal, Derby County, and numerous other clubs expressing their condolences.
The news has reignited a conversation about player safety in non-league football, particularly concerning the proximity of concrete walls and other hazards to the pitch.
Our thoughts are with Billy’s family, friends, and all who knew him at this incredibly difficult time.
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