Tributes paid to Chichester City footballer Billy Vigar who died after 'significant brain injury'

Chichester City footballer Billy Vigar has died following a significant brain injury suffered during a match.

The former Arsenal youth player, 21, collided with a concrete wall in last weekend’s Isthmian League Premier Division game at Wingate and Finchley when he was trying to keep the ball from going off the pitch.

Billy was taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma. He had surgery on Tuesday aimed at helping his recovery but died on Thursday morning.

“It is with great sadness that Chichester City Football Club has to confirm the passing of Billy Vigar,” the club said in a statement on social media.

“We request that his family’s privacy is respected at this most difficult time. Rest in peace Billy. Forever in the hearts of all at Chichester City Football Club.”

Chichester City FC has postponed Saturday’s scheduled match against Lewes.

A statement from Vigar’s family, posted by the club, read: “After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put in an induced coma.

“On Tuesday, he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery. Although this helped, the injury proved too much for him and he passed away on Thursday (25th) morning.

“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.”

Vigar – who left Arsenal in the summer of 2024, without having made a senior appearance – also had a loan spell with Derby Under-21s as well as Hastings and Eastbourne Borough.

A statement from Derby read: “All at Derby County are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar.

“Billy spent the second half of the 2022/23 season with the Academy on loan from Arsenal, making several appearances for the Under-21s.

“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

In a statement on X, Arsenal posted: "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."

The FA posted: "We are devastated to hear that Billy Vigar has passed away. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, loved ones, and everyone at Chichester City FC at this incredibly difficult time."

Billy's former Arsenal academy teammates including Nottingham Forest's Omari Hutchinson, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Charlie Patiño and Charles Sagoe. Jr have also all taken to social media, paying their respects.

A petition calling for the removal of brick walls and other hard immovable structures from around football pitches, has garnered more than 4,000 signatures.

Jack Mison, who started the petition, said: "Billy Vigar’s death must be the last. We owe it to his memory - and to every player who steps onto a football pitch - to ensure that no one else suffers such a needless tragedy.

"Football should be a game of joy and community, not a place where preventable hazards claim young lives."

The Government and the PFA wrote to the chief executives of the Football Association, the Premier League, the EFL and the National League in June 2023 calling on them to adopt a more proactive approach to player safety in this area, after Bath City's Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with an advertising board reinforced with concrete blocks in a match in November 2022.

The PFA's chief executive Maheta Molango said in a statement it was vital to ensure "opportunities to make grounds safer for players have not been missed".

"Clearly there needs to be a formal investigation into the incident that has led to Billy Vigar's tragic death, and it is right that this is allowed to take place so that the full circumstances can be properly established," Molango said.

"All of our thoughts right now are with Billy's family and friends, and providing whatever support we can to them.

"When the time is right, we will offer any assistance we can as part of any investigation process, specifically information that may be helpful regarding the safety of players in grounds.

"That includes sharing concerns we have raised previously around incidents where PFA members have been seriously injured in collisions with perimeter walls and fences, such as that involving Alex Fletcher at Bath City.

"All footballers should expect to be safe when they go out to play or train, and to not be put at unnecessary and avoidable risk by factors beyond their control.

"When we previously highlighted potential safety issues in grounds and stadiums, the Sports Minister and I wrote to all the football authorities to urge them to be proactive on this and to make sure all their rules and regulations around player safety were fit for purpose.

"Again, whilst it is important that a proper investigation is allowed to conclude, we have to ensure that opportunities to make grounds safer for players have not been missed and that players don't feel that serious incidents involving their safety are necessary to prompt change."

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