The parents of Chichester City footballer Billy Vigar have said they believe the Football Association could have prevented his death by acting on earlier warnings about pitch-side walls.
Speaking to BBC Sport on the first anniversary of his death, Camilla and Keith Vigar called for answers and for safety rules to be extended across all levels of football.
Billy, who was scouted by Arsenal while playing for Hove Rivervale, died on 25 September 2025, aged 21. He had suffered a significant brain injury five days earlier after colliding with a concrete wall during Chichester’s away match at Wingate & Finchley in north London.
“You swing from sadness to anger because you just feel it could have been prevented,” his mother told BBC sports news correspondent Laura Scott.
The FA has since changed its stadium requirements and says work to improve pitch-side safety is under way, supported by funding from the governing body and the Premier League.
Parents question response to earlier incidents
In their first broadcast interview since Billy’s death, published by BBC Sport, the Vigars questioned why previous deaths and serious injuries had not led to changes before their son was hurt.
“I personally feel that the FA could have stopped Billy losing his life because they had so many warnings,” Camilla said.
The family pointed to Ben Hiscox, who died in 2015 after colliding with a clubhouse while playing amateur football near Bristol. The BBC reports that a coroner warned the FA about the risk of further deaths. Padding was subsequently installed at Stoke Gifford United’s clubhouse and the space between the building and pitch was increased.
They also highlighted the injuries suffered by Bath City player Alex Fletcher in 2022. Fletcher fractured his skull after a collision with concrete barriers and retired from football in 2024.
The FA reviewed clubs following Fletcher’s injury. Camilla told the BBC she understood that Wingate & Finchley had been identified as a high-risk ground during that earlier work.
According to the BBC, the FA did not comment when asked what it had done with the information collected after Fletcher’s injury.
Fletcher also spoke to the broadcaster, saying his campaigning had been ignored and calling for accountability. He shares the family’s concern that the revised requirements do not cover every level of organised football.
What has the FA changed?
The FA announced an immediate review of pitch perimeters on 26 September 2025, the day after Billy died.
In an update published on 7 August 2026, it confirmed revised stadium requirements following work by independent health and safety experts.
BBC Sport reports that the review covered more than 900 clubs and that 169 clubs have been told to make changes.
| Where the changes apply | Men’s National League System, Steps 1–6, and Women’s National League, Tiers 3–4 |
|---|---|
| Solid barriers | Existing brick, breeze-block and concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable |
| Structural walls | Walls that cannot be removed for structural reasons must have suitable protective covering |
| Funding | The FA and Premier League are providing support through the Premier League Stadium Fund |
The FA says matches may continue at affected grounds while improvements are arranged. Clubs must keep assessing the safety of their barriers and develop plans to complete recommended alterations within a reasonable timeframe.
Responding to the BBC, the FA said: “This important work is under way, and we will continue to fully support the clubs involved.”
Keith Vigar, who works in health and safety, wants the protection extended beyond the competitions covered by the changes.
“It needs to change basically at all levels, not just at the levels that have changed,” he told the broadcaster.
From Hove Rivervale to Arsenal and Sussex non-league football
Billy’s football career connected clubs across Sussex, beginning with Hove Rivervale before his move into Arsenal’s academy.
Arsenal’s player profile records that he was born in Worthing and joined the club in December 2017, aged 14. He signed his first professional contract in July 2022.
His father recalled the excitement of Arsenal choosing him, and a promise to buy him a good pair of boots if he joined an academy.
Billy later spent the 2023–24 season on loan at Eastbourne Borough. In its tribute following his death, Borough recorded 32 appearances and described the lasting impression he had made on people throughout the club.
He also played for Hastings United before joining Chichester City in 2025.
Chichester manager Darin Kilpatrick told the BBC that Billy had quickly shown his ability to lead the attack, link play and score goals. He believed the striker would have progressed to the National League or English Football League.
In Chichester’s tribute last October, teammates remembered a modest player who settled into the squad quickly and preferred talking about other people rather than himself.
Chichester City’s shirts keep Billy Vigar’s memory with the club
Chichester have incorporated a tribute to Billy into their home and away shirts for the 2026–27 season.
The kits, unveiled on 5 August, were developed with supplier Joma and local designer and supporter Declan McGreal. The design uses angel wings within a heart shape to represent Billy’s initials, BV.
The club said the shirts would be worn by both senior and youth teams.
Chairman Andy Bell said: “Billy’s memory will always be with all at Chichester City and we will continue to honour him.”
The Vigars praised Chichester’s support in their BBC interview. Keith also described how difficult it had been to watch the team again while thinking that Billy should still be out on the pitch.
A family still waiting for answers
The family are awaiting an inquest, which the BBC reports is likely to take place in 2027.
To mark the anniversary, they planned to climb Snowdon with their children Phoebe and Ollie and the family of Billy’s girlfriend, Lois.
Keith said the climb would give them something to focus on and a challenge Billy would have enjoyed.
“I’m sure he will be with us somewhere, looking over us in some way or form, having a laugh at us, no doubt, in the rain,” he said.
