No doubt everyone knows about the tragedy of Billy Vigler, who hit his head on the perimeter wall at Wingate and Finchley, whilst playing for Chichester FC. Thoughts and condolences with friends and family and all who knew him.
The FA is going to conduct a safety review of all perimeter walls.
https://www.thefa.com/news/2025/sep/26/ ... t-20252609
Obviously ours are likely to change under any new legislation.
I can remember a Kidderminster or Kettering player whack himself against the wall in a pre-merger Dagenham FC game, and be stretchered off, but I can’t recall any other incidents.
But one death is one too many. I wonder how many other incidents have been brushed away because they didn’t result in a fatality?
RIP Billy Vigler / Perimeter Walls
I can remember a few more similar instances back in the 70's.
If they suggest that there should not be perimeter walls it will be interesting as to what will be put in their place, although there must be plastic alternatives that would absorb impacts. Whatever they decide it would be costly to replace the walls and there would be few in the lower leagues that could afford to replace them without assistance.
Perhaps this is were the so called trickle down of money from Premiership to grass roots football could be directed to some benefit.
If they suggest that there should not be perimeter walls it will be interesting as to what will be put in their place, although there must be plastic alternatives that would absorb impacts. Whatever they decide it would be costly to replace the walls and there would be few in the lower leagues that could afford to replace them without assistance.
Perhaps this is were the so called trickle down of money from Premiership to grass roots football could be directed to some benefit.