Fatal Pitch Collision Sparks Industry-Wide Risk Assessment Requirements for Sports Facility Managers

The death of 21-year-old Billy Vigar, a former Arsenal youth player, has prompted the Football Association to launch an immediate safety review across the National League system. Vigar sustained a significant brain injury during a match between his team Chichester City and Wingate and Finchley FC in September, when he collided with a concrete perimeter wall surrounding the pitch. He died four days later on Thursday. This incident, occurring just two years after similar concerns were raised following Alex Fletcher's serious head injury at Bath City, highlights persistent gaps in how sports venues assess and manage boundary-related risks.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Immediate Action Required: Venues must reassess perimeter safety now, as existing risk assessments have failed to account for modern playing speeds and athletic capabilities
• Legal Compliance at Risk: The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 already requires venues to control reasonably foreseeable risks - waiting for new FA standards could expose organisations to prosecution
• Cost-Effective Solutions Exist: Successful retrofitting can be achieved for under £10,000 through padding, fencing replacements, or reorganised layouts - far less than average HSE prosecution costs of £150,000+

A Risk Hidden in Plain Sight

Throughout my career advising on workplace safety, I've observed that the most dangerous hazards are often those we've grown accustomed to seeing. Concrete perimeter walls at football grounds fall squarely into this category. The FA's safety review affects hundreds of venues across the National League system, with implications extending far beyond football as local authorities and insurers reassess their own risk profiles.

What's particularly concerning is the pattern emerging here. Alex Fletcher's near-fatal collision with advertising hoardings in 2022 prompted government intervention, with sports minister Stuart Andrew and the PFA writing to football's governing bodies in June 2023. Paul Heatley suffered a concussion from a similar incident in Northern Ireland just weeks before Vigar's death. In my experience, when multiple incidents occur despite warnings, it typically indicates systematic failures in risk assessment methodology rather than isolated oversights.

The Wider Implications for Sports Facility Managers

Drawing from my experience conducting venue audits, here's what safety professionals should prioritise immediately:

Conduct Dynamic Risk Assessments

Static, paper-based assessments won't capture the reality of modern sport. I recommend observing actual match conditions, measuring run-off distances at maximum player speeds, and mapping collision zones. Remember, reasonably foreseeable doesn't mean likely. It means possible.

Implement the Hierarchy of Controls

Elimination should always be your first consideration. Can advertising boards be relocated? Can concrete walls be replaced with tension mesh fencing, as Corsham Town FC demonstrated in January 2024? If elimination isn't feasible, consider engineering controls like impact-absorbing padding.

Establish Minimum Safe Distances

For a lot of cases, I advocate for a minimum of 3-metre buffer zone between pitch boundaries and hard structures. This is based on deceleration distances at typical playing speeds. Where space constraints exist, this is where creative solutions become essential.

Create a Safety Culture Beyond Compliance

Over my career, I've learned that the best safety outcomes emerge when we move beyond mere compliance. Engage players and on-pitch staff members in risk identification, they understand the game's dynamics better than anyone. Bath City's Alex Fletcher, who survived his 2022 incident, has become a powerful advocate for change. These voices matter.

Protecting Against Future Changes

The FA's review will likely establish new minimum standards, but waiting for regulatory change is a dangerous game. In my experience, organisations that proactively address safety concerns not only protect their people better but also demonstrate the leadership that defines truly excellent safety culture.

Brain injury charity Headway's chief executive, Luke Griggs, has called for collaboration between the FA, PFA, local authorities and sponsors to fund necessary changes at smaller clubs. This multi-stakeholder approach reflects the reality that safety improvements often require collective action, particularly where resource constraints exist.

Ready to enhance your organisation's safety culture? Subscribe to our newsletter below for quarterly insights, explore our comprehensive course library for CPD-accredited training, or catch up with our latest 'This Week in Health and Safety' articles for ongoing professional development.