Slough Town captain calls for immediate safety improvements following the tragic death of Billy Vigar

Henry Ochieng, captain of Enterprise National League South Slough Town, has called for immediate safety improvements following the tragic death of Billy Vigar.

In an emotional open letter, the 26-year-old wrote: “I call on the National League and The FA to introduce and enforce immediate regulations to ensure that all stadiums provide safe perimeters around the pitch.”

Vigar, a former Arsenal youth player, sustained a “significant brain injury” in a game for his club Chichester City at Wingate & Finchley in the Isthmian League Premier Division. A statement from Chichester said: “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 to much for him and he passed away on Thursday morning.”

In the letter, Ochieng wrote: “This incident serves as a sobering reminder that while football is a sport we all love, it should never come at the expense of basic player safety. As players we are expected to perform at the highest levels, showcasing skill, dedication, and passion for the game. In return, it is only right that they are provided with safe environments in which to compete – it is at this we conclude, player safety must come before anything else. Football should never be played in environments where preventable dangers are present. Stadiums with hard, unprotected structures directly adjacent to the field of play put players at unacceptable risk. Injuries of this nature are preventable, and the onus must be on all governing bodies, clubs, and facilities to ensure that safety standards are upheld without compromise.”

On Monday morning, former Bath City player Alex Fletcher discussed his own recovery from a horrific head injury after colliding with a concrete barrier in 2022 on BBC Breakfast television.

Vigar’s death was “an entirely preventable situation,” he told the show.

Henry Ochieng’s letter in full was posted via the Slough Town Twitter account. Please do read it here.