DORKING WANDERERS owner Marc White has called on pitchside brick walls to be banned from stadiums following the tragic death of Billy Vigar.
Former Arsenal academy star Vigar died aged just 21 yesterday after hitting his head while playing for Chichester City at Wingate & Finchley on Saturday.
Billy Vigar sustained the injury while playing for Chichester last Saturday[/caption]
Vigar was airlifted to hospital where he was subsequently placed in an induced coma.
He then underwent surgery, but was tragically unable to recover.
White, 51, wants Saturday’s horrific incident to spark meaningful change.
Posting on Dorking official X page, he wrote: “All clubs need @FA to instruct an immediate enquiry into pitch surrounds.
“Many are dangerous and players always have to be cautious given the proximity from the pitch.
“But some simply do not move and are lethal. These need removing immediately.”
A petition, which already has more than 2,500 signatures, has been launched calling for brick walls around football pitches to be outlawed.
The plea begins: “We, football lovers, urgently call for the removal of brick walls and other hard, immovable structures surrounding football pitches.
Wingate & Finchley’s Maurice Rebak Stadium includes a pitchside brick wall[/caption]
“This petition is driven by the heartbreaking death of Billy Vigar, a young and talented footballer whose life was tragically cut short after a collision with a pitch-side brick wall.
“Billy’s passing is not an isolated incident—countless players at all levels have suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, concussions, and life-altering trauma, as a result of these dangerous barriers.”
After being sent a link to the petition, White reposted it, while adding: “Can everyone please sign and share this petition. Pls RT.”
Following yesterday’s tragic news, Vigar’s family said in a statement: “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.”
While Arsenal also released a statement passing on their deepest condolences.
Non-league striker Alex Fletcher was placed in a coma after suffering a fractured skull while playing for Bath City in the National League South three years ago.
Fletcher was able to make a full recovery, and even returned to action around nine months later.
But after struggling with his balance and coordination following his serious injury, which resulted from crashing into a pitchside advertising hoarding, Fletcher retired from the game aged just 25 a year ago.
