FOOTBALL: Tragic Death of Former United Player
Billy Vigar, 21-year-old former Hastings United striker, died on 25 September after suffering a severe head injury playing for Chichester City. Chasing a ball to the goal line in an away match against Wingate & Finchley five days before, Vigar crashed into a concrete wall beyond it. He was attended by paramedics at the ground and rushed to hospital with an induced coma but failed to recover.
There will be an FA enquiry concerning the hazardous location of the perimeter wall, and the risk that other grounds may have similar features.
Vigar had been a popular member of the Hastings team in the first two months of last season, having previously represented Arsenal at youth level. He played most of his games for the ‘U’s as a mobile and hard-working centre forward, but may also be remembered fondly by home supporters for his performance as substitute goalkeeper in a game against Cheshunt at the Pilot Field last October, keeping a clean sheet for the whole of the second half after Louis Rogers had been red-carded. Four days later, he himself was stretchered off after a defender’s wild tackle in a match at Cray, and was sidelined for the rest of the season with a severe LCL injury. He joined Chichester City at the start of the current season.
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