Stadium concrete wall demolished after Vigar death

Wingate & Finchley have demolished a pitch-side concrete wall at the Maurice Rebak Stadium following the death of Chichester City striker Billy Vigar.

The 21-year-old died last month after sustaining a “serious brain injury” during Chichester’s match against the non-league side in London.

It is thought the injury was caused when the former Arsenal academy forward collided with a concrete wall.

The Football Association said it would carry out an immediate safety review of perimeter walls at football grounds in the National League after Vigar’s death.

Former Bath City striker Alex Fletcher retired from football in 2023 after fracturing his skull in a collision with an advertising hoarding in November 2022.

The now 26-year-old was placed in a coma after emergency surgery and did not play for 10 months.

He has since taken a role in the brain health department within the Professional Footballers’ Association and believes Vigar’s death was preventable.

“This was an entirely preventable situation,” Fletcher told BBC Breakfast.

“It brought a lot of emotions flooding back for me but my overriding emotion was frustration that the calls for change haven’t been listened to by the FA.

“I’m afraid this will not be the last [death] if action isn’t taken.”