Arsenal paid an emotional tribute to Billy Vigar ahead of their Champions League game against Olympiacos on Wednesday.
Gunners fans held a minute’s applause before kick-off for ex-academy star Vigar, who died at the age of 21 from a fatal injury sustained during a match. His picture was also shown on the big screen at the Emirates.
Vigar suffered a ‘significant brain injury’ after colliding with a concrete wall while playing for Chichester City at Wingate and Finchley in the Isthmian League Premier Division on September 20.
The 21-year-old was placed in a coma and had surgery in a bid to save his life last Tuesday, but ‘the injury proved too much for him’, his devastated family said.
Chichester City have now created a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money to support Vigar’s grief-stricken family and create ‘a lasting legacy that extends far beyond football’.
The tragedy happened when Vigar tried to prevent the ball crossing the goal-line after 13 minutes. Multiple ambulance and an air ambulance arrived with the match abandoned.
Billy Vigar’s picture was shown on the big screen ahead of Arsenal’s match with Olympiacos
Vigar was a product of the Arsenal youth academy and had been at the club until as recently as last year
The FA are reviewing the safety of perimeter walls and boundaries at non-league stadiums in the wake of the incident, following criticism from players and clubs.
‘Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is deeply sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Chichester City forward and former Arsenal academy player, Billy Vigar,’ Arsenal said in a statement following his death.
‘As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ‘the most Important of his life’ – and a character beloved by teammates and coaches alike.
‘Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.’
Speaking last week, Arteta said: ‘It is shocking news. Straight away you’re thinking about the family, and how difficult it is to go through something like this in a very unexpected way.
‘Hopefully they can understand how it happened, and why it happened, and obviously try to avoid this kind of thing.
‘Really sad news, and our thoughts are with the family and all his loved ones.’
Arsenal players also wore black armbands in their 2-1 win at Newcastle on Sunday.
Fans of both Arsenal and Olympiacos joined in with the minute’s applause at the Emirates
The incident was described as a ‘freak accident’ by Chichester City goalkeeper Kieran Magee, 30, in an interview with Daily Mail Sport.
‘It’s still very raw as to what we saw,’ he said. ‘An absolute freak accident, he’s collided with the concrete wall around the perimeter of the pitch.
‘It was past the goal-line so at the end of the pitch. For the whole team that were playing at the time, not just us but the Wingate and Finchley players as well, it’s a traumatic memory for us.
‘There were a few guys that stayed with him, and the physios from both clubs. There were a couple members of the crowd who were medically trained and came over, too. The paramedics turned up extremely quickly and took over from there.
‘We were with him until we couldn’t be. We knew it was serious very quickly.
‘It’s going to be at the forefront of everyone’s mind for a long, long time going forward.’
