| RIP Billy Vigar..... 19:17 - Sep 25 with 3293 views | Bloots |
....the Chichester City player has died after colliding with the wall surrounding the pitch at the weekend.
This isn't the first time this type of situation has happened, it's a disgrace that football grounds at any level have walls around the pitch.
Over the last few years I've noticed more and more players at the top level pushing players off the pitch as they run towards the touchline at speed, and I fear it's only a matter of time before a more "high profile" player is seriously injured because of it.
It needs to be taken very seriously. |  |
| "Trite Sixth-Form Politics” - TWTD User (Sept 2025) |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:27 - Sep 25 with 2695 views | Samuelowen88 |
Not the same, but I was amazed at the steepness of the exterior of the pitch at Blackburn, that seemed dangerous, but absolutely mental that walls are allowed. |  |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:41 - Sep 25 with 2595 views | FrimleyBlue |
Seen it many times in the non league game
camberley town have walls surrounding the whole pitch, remember a fair few injuries especially in derby games between the sides, always a few players being pushed into the wall. |  |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:46 - Sep 25 with 2539 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
I am sure we don't have them any more but I recall photographer pits with metal boards over them and players falling into them at risk to both themselves and the photographers. |  |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:55 - Sep 25 with 2449 views | SitfcB |
Horrific. Wasn’t there a similar incident with a Bath City player the other year?
No need for these concrete walls around pitches really. |  |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:56 - Sep 25 with 2438 views | SitfcB |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:46 - Sep 25 by Nthsuffolkblue |
I am sure we don't have them any more but I recall photographer pits with metal boards over them and players falling into them at risk to both themselves and the photographers. |
Yes down the side of the west stand, I think the lineman fell down one once? | |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 20:19 - Sep 25 with 2308 views | PhilTWTD |
Indeed, dreadful news and something which should have been addressed before now given previous incidents. Just checked and he came on towards the end for Arsenal U21s against Town in the Papa Johns in 2022. |  | | |
| Old Trafford has..... on 20:49 - Sep 25 with 2177 views | Bloots |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:27 - Sep 25 by Samuelowen88 |
Not the same, but I was amazed at the steepness of the exterior of the pitch at Blackburn, that seemed dangerous, but absolutely mental that walls are allowed. |
....a massive slope behind each goal touchline.
Amazed that nothing has ever happened there.
Yet. | |
| "Trite Sixth-Form Politics” - TWTD User (Sept 2025) |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 21:05 - Sep 25 with 2107 views | TheBoyBlue |
So sad and it has happened at least one other time in the last couple of seasons I think. Surely something can be implemented to ensure something like this doesn't happen again?
Thoughts are with his family and hoping no other family has to go through this simply from their loved one playing a game of football. |  |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 03:45 - Sep 26 with 1658 views | Illinoisblue |
Horrendous incident. Just seen photos of the ground. Unfathomable there’s a wall that close to the pitch. Beyond belief it’s even there at all. |  |
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| Old Trafford has..... on 06:24 - Sep 26 with 1502 views | iamatractorboy |
| Old Trafford has..... on 20:49 - Sep 25 by Bloots |
....a massive slope behind each goal touchline.
Amazed that nothing has ever happened there.
Yet. |
They're on the sides too. I remember Ashley Young colliding (I'll word it like that) with Angel Di Maria and ADM going flying into the little lower wall they've got below the slope, could've been seriously nasty. | | | |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 06:51 - Sep 26 with 1433 views | Battersea_Blue |
Really sad this has happened and in this day and age, even at non-league level, it shouldn't be possible.
Every time I've been to Old Trafford I'm surprised there's not been a serious injury because of the huge drop off from pitch level down the sidelines. | | | |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 07:26 - Sep 26 with 1320 views | Wallingford_Boy |
But what’s the alternatives?
I run a step 5 non league team and we have a wall around the pitch, it would cost tens of thousands to remove and replace and we barely get by week to week financially.
The FA would not be able to afford grant’s to cover every club and nor would any other bodies.
So tragic what happened, but there will be more, clubs just don’t have any other options. |  |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 07:38 - Sep 26 with 1277 views | DJR |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:27 - Sep 25 by Samuelowen88 |
Not the same, but I was amazed at the steepness of the exterior of the pitch at Blackburn, that seemed dangerous, but absolutely mental that walls are allowed. |
I think it was Greaves who in the first half pushed one of the Blackburn players down the slope and against the wall.
I thought that was appalling.
Understandably, the player reacted angrily but fortunately he didn't get injured. [Post edited 26 Sep 7:40]
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 08:32 - Sep 26 with 1106 views | FrimleyBlue |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 07:26 - Sep 26 by Wallingford_Boy |
But what’s the alternatives?
I run a step 5 non league team and we have a wall around the pitch, it would cost tens of thousands to remove and replace and we barely get by week to week financially.
The FA would not be able to afford grant’s to cover every club and nor would any other bodies.
So tragic what happened, but there will be more, clubs just don’t have any other options. |
The fa could easily cover every club.
First they could revamp there stadium requirements and stop clubs having to pay to install new stands when there is fk all requirement to do so and all the other stuff that comes with it. Then clubs might have the outlay themselves to get it done. | |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 08:35 - Sep 26 with 1101 views | FrimleyBlue |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 03:45 - Sep 26 by Illinoisblue |
Horrendous incident. Just seen photos of the ground. Unfathomable there’s a wall that close to the pitch. Beyond belief it’s even there at all. |
https://www.camberleytownfc.co.uk/
On this link you can see the wall I was talking about earlier in the thread.. | |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 08:53 - Sep 26 with 1057 views | Hugoagogo_Reborn |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 07:26 - Sep 26 by Wallingford_Boy |
But what’s the alternatives?
I run a step 5 non league team and we have a wall around the pitch, it would cost tens of thousands to remove and replace and we barely get by week to week financially.
The FA would not be able to afford grant’s to cover every club and nor would any other bodies.
So tragic what happened, but there will be more, clubs just don’t have any other options. |
In indoor athletics, when they do the 60/80 metre? sprint in smaller venues, they have padded barriers that the athletes crash into as they can't slow down in time. I can't see why non league clubs can't invest in padding to cover the walls. Get the padding printed with sponsors to offset the cost, or set up a crowdfunding site, if you are that hard up as a club, but people dying in a game of football because of a concrete/brick wall just should not happen in this day and age. [Post edited 26 Sep 8:56]
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 09:02 - Sep 26 with 992 views | HighgateBlue |
Yes I've noticed this too. It shouldn't be tolerated. There are no breeze block walls at the highest level, but advertising hoardings are of course the altar of modern football, and they're pretty robust, and not that much further away from the pitch in some cases. |  | | |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 09:08 - Sep 26 with 939 views | Wallingford_Boy |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 08:32 - Sep 26 by FrimleyBlue |
The fa could easily cover every club.
First they could revamp there stadium requirements and stop clubs having to pay to install new stands when there is fk all requirement to do so and all the other stuff that comes with it. Then clubs might have the outlay themselves to get it done. |
"The fa could easily cover every club."
You have no idea do you!! | |
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 09:12 - Sep 26 with 906 views | Wallingford_Boy |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 08:53 - Sep 26 by Hugoagogo_Reborn |
In indoor athletics, when they do the 60/80 metre? sprint in smaller venues, they have padded barriers that the athletes crash into as they can't slow down in time. I can't see why non league clubs can't invest in padding to cover the walls. Get the padding printed with sponsors to offset the cost, or set up a crowdfunding site, if you are that hard up as a club, but people dying in a game of football because of a concrete/brick wall just should not happen in this day and age. [Post edited 26 Sep 8:56]
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We are no more hard up than all the other thousands of clubs at step 2 and below of the non league ladder.
Even padding would cost thousands.
I know lives are far more important, but unfortunately its not that simple and would take years to remove every wall at every club.
Most clubs that don't have walls, have metal fencing which I guess could cause the same damage anyway.
Its a real problem and no quick fix I am afraid. | |
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| The alternative to…. on 09:15 - Sep 26 with 894 views | Bloots |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 07:26 - Sep 26 by Wallingford_Boy |
But what’s the alternatives?
I run a step 5 non league team and we have a wall around the pitch, it would cost tens of thousands to remove and replace and we barely get by week to week financially.
The FA would not be able to afford grant’s to cover every club and nor would any other bodies.
So tragic what happened, but there will be more, clubs just don’t have any other options. |
….the potential death of another young footballer?
Every option is an alternative.
Get some volunteers sorted and knock it down, hire a couple of skips for £500.
Or condemn the ground and close the club.
They are better options than risking another death. | |
| "Trite Sixth-Form Politics” - TWTD User (Sept 2025) |
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| The alternative to…. on 09:21 - Sep 26 with 855 views | _clive_baker_ |
| The alternative to…. on 09:15 - Sep 26 by Bloots |
….the potential death of another young footballer?
Every option is an alternative.
Get some volunteers sorted and knock it down, hire a couple of skips for £500.
Or condemn the ground and close the club.
They are better options than risking another death. |
Agree tbh. I’ve played on plenty of pitches like that and it’s shameful it’s taken an incident like this to bring the conversation back to the fore. I think something will be done, the plaster needs ripping off and a deadline given to all clubs to meet a certain safety standard in this respect. Yes non league clubs are largely skint, but find the money or the FA need to provide an interest free debt facility or something. |  | | |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 10:15 - Sep 26 with 711 views | weepingx2018 |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 19:27 - Sep 25 by Samuelowen88 |
Not the same, but I was amazed at the steepness of the exterior of the pitch at Blackburn, that seemed dangerous, but absolutely mental that walls are allowed. |
Absolutely tragic. | | | |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 10:16 - Sep 26 with 708 views | weepingx2018 |
I think the original post should be pinned. It is truly appalling and puts football in perspective. [Post edited 26 Sep 10:17]
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| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 10:36 - Sep 26 with 640 views | FrimleyBlue |
| RIP Billy Vigar..... on 09:08 - Sep 26 by Wallingford_Boy |
"The fa could easily cover every club."
You have no idea do you!! |
I guess i didn't learn anything in my 5 years of step 5/6 chairman ship and working with the fa on having to fund changes just to keep their tick box ground grading bullox and working with other clubs who had to waste thousands of pounds on stands that had absolutely 0 need to be build.
So yeah they could cover every club that needed to remove bricked walls around the pitch.
by allowing clubs at non league level to spend funds on what actually is needed to be spent it would enable more to spend money on important things like this. | |
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| The alternative to…. on 10:53 - Sep 26 with 614 views | Wallingford_Boy |
| The alternative to…. on 09:15 - Sep 26 by Bloots |
….the potential death of another young footballer?
Every option is an alternative.
Get some volunteers sorted and knock it down, hire a couple of skips for £500.
Or condemn the ground and close the club.
They are better options than risking another death. |
Yeah we'll just fold the club, good argument.
The FA ground rules state we must have a fence/wall of some sort around the pitch, so the risks are still there, whatever we replace it with.
Padding is probably the best option, but the FA would need to help financially. | |
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