A NON-LEAGUE club has demolished the wall that was struck by former Arsenal star Billy Vigar leading to his tragic death.
The Chichester City ace collided with the pitchside barrier during the Isthmian Premier Division game at Wingate and Finchley last month.
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Vigar, 21, was placed into an induced coma following the accident after he hit his head against the wall.
The game was suspended just 15 minutes in and was abandoned completely after he had been airlifted to hospital.
He had suffered a serious brain injury, and an operation was unable to save his life.
He sadly died just days later on September 25.
Following the tragedy, the FA insisted that it would carry out a safety review of perimeter walls in the National League.
But officials at Wingate and Finchley have already made steps to increase safety around the pitch at the Maurice Rebak Stadium.
The Daily Mail has reported that work has been commissioned to make improvements.
The ground did comply with current regulations, but the club has now demolished the wall completely.
It follows on from a petition calling on brick walls around pitches to be banned reached over 4,000 signatures.
On the immediate review, a FA spokesperson said: “[It woudl] include looking at ways we can assist National League system clubs to identify and implement additional measures at their stadiums that they determine will help to mitigate any potential safety risks.”
Meanwhile, the PFA called for an investigation and demanded that players should “not be put at unnecessary and avoidable risk”.
Vigar, from Worthing, West Sussex, spent his youth career with Arsenal after joining at age 14 and signed a professional contract in July 2022.
He worked his way up to the U21 team in North London, alongside loan spells with Derby County U21 and Eastbourne.
He left the club permanently in 2024 after being unable to progress to the senior team, joining Hastings United in the Non-League Premier before his move to Chichester.
Full statement from Arsenal
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.
Billy joined our academy on schoolboy terms aged 14, after being scouted at his hometown club Hove Rivervale FC and excelled as a striker at Hale End, scoring 17 goals in his debut season.
In 2020, his performances earned him a scholarship and joined us full-time for the 2020/21 season, his intake including current players Charles Sagoe Jr, Remy Mitchell and others such as Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino and Brook Norton-Cuffy.
Quick, powerful and fiercely determined, his first season as a scholar was blighted by a serious hamstring injury, but he made up for it in his second, scoring four goals in 18 under-18 appearances and signed professional terms for the club at the end of that 2021/22 season.
Billy went on to appear for us in the PL2 and EFL Trophy and proved to be an asset across the forward positions and even deputised in defence – his versatility illustrating his commitment to the coaching staff and his team.
He enjoyed loan spells at Derby County and Eastbourne Borough and at the end of the 2023/24 season, headed back to his native south coast, signing for Hastings United – prior to a move to Chichester just last month.
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.