Football clubs within the National League System are now required to either eliminate or properly pad the brick and concrete walls encircling their pitches.
This safety measure comes in the wake of a review triggered by the tragic death of Chichester City forward Billy Vigar.
Vigar, a 21-year-old former youth striker for Arsenal, died last September after sustaining a brain injury from colliding with a concrete barrier while attempting to keep the ball in play during a match at Wingate and Finchley.
In response to the findings, the Football Association has released updated guidelines on pitch perimeters.
The new regulations strictly prohibit the use of solid brick, breeze block, or concrete barriers around pitches for clubs competing in the men’s National League System (steps 1-6) and the Women’s National League (tiers 3-4).
The Football Association has published updated pitch perimeter criteria (PA)
The FA stated, “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.”
The FA has informed the clubs affected by these changes that action is required.
“Matches may continue at affected grounds during this time; however, clubs should consistently assess the safety of their pitch perimeter barriers, and where safety modifications have been suggested in this review, they should formulate a plan to make these changes promptly,” the FA added.
Reports indicate that out of roughly 900 clubs at these levels, about 160 have been notified of necessary modifications to their facilities.
The FA and Premier League will provide financial assistance for the required work through the Premier League Stadium Fund.
“The initial phase of the program is already in progress, and we will maintain our full support for the clubs involved in this process,” the FA said.
The Professional Footballers’ Association had previously advocated for such safety reviews following an incident that left Bath City’s Alex Fletcher in a coma in 2022.
In June 2023, the PFA and then Sports Minister Stuart Andrew sent correspondence to the FA, Premier League, EFL, and National League urging a proactive review of pitch perimeter safety.
In light of Friday’s announcement, a PFA representative stated, “Following the tragic passing of Billy Vigar last year, we further emphasized these safety issues and expressed our dissatisfaction with the slow progress and leadership on the matter.
“As part of the working groups established by the FA after Billy’s death, we advocated for amendments to the FA’s Stadium Accreditation criteria to eliminate such walls, creating a clear and unified policy for clubs to adhere to.”
“Thus, it is a positive development that the FA has adjusted its regulations accordingly. However, it is crucial that the progress on removing these walls and properly managing associated risks is systematically monitored, and that clubs receive the necessary support to implement these changes as quickly as possible. The safety of players must always be our top priority.”