‘It had to happen’ – Chichester City welcome non-league pitch wall ban
Chichester City bosses have welcomed a ban on walls around non-league football pitches and said: It had to happen.
A review of player safety was ordered after City striker Billy Vigar died of a ‘significant’ brain injury sustained when he collided with a perimeter wall in their game at Wingate & Finchley last September.
Now the FA has said no ‘solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers’ are allowed – and existing ones must be removed or made safe with adequate covering.
A number of clubs had already removed such walls before the new rule was announced last Friday.
Chichester City coach Darin Killpartrick said: “We’re obviously pleased by this ruling – it had to happen after what happened to Billy.
“It won’t bring him back, of course, but it should mean an accident like the one we saw won’t happen again.”
The FA said a review of pitch perimeter walls across the National League System and Women’s National League was done by independent health and safety experts.
They said new criteria ‘no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches across the National League System for men [Steps 1-6], and the Women's National League [Tiers 3-4]’.
They added: “Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable, or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons.”
Meanwhile, City have won one and lost one of their first two games in the Southern League Premier South.
A 2-1 loss at home to Poole Town on Saturday – when Joe Clarke was on target with a late consolation – was followed by a 1-0 win at Wimborne Town on Tuesday, Harry Bridle scoring from the spot. City go to Evesham this Saturday.