Billy Vigar’s parents accuse FA of ignoring warnings

Billy Vigar’s mother calls for answers over his tragic death

Billy Vigar, who had previously been part of Arsenal’s academy, was only 21 when he died last September.

The Chichester City striker had collided with a concrete wall while playing against Wingate and Finchley in north London, suffering a significant brain injury. He died five days later, on 25 September 2025.

His mother, Camilla Vigar, believes the circumstances surrounding the tragedy need to be examined, particularly because the Football Association had previously been made aware of similar dangers.

The FA was warned about dangerous football grounds before Billy Vigar died

In 2015, amateur footballer Ben Hiscox died after being struck by a wall outside a clubhouse near Bristol. A coroner subsequently warned the FA that further deaths could occur.

The club involved, Stoke Gifford United, responded by adding protective padding.

Years later, Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull when he collided with a wall at Bath City’s ground in 2022. His injuries were so severe that he was eventually forced to retire in 2024.

The FA reviewed clubs following that incident and, according to Vigar, Wingate and Finchley was among the grounds identified as high risk. She says she was unable to find evidence that anything changed before her son played there.

“As far as I'm aware, nothing was done with that information and it just sat there,” she told BBC Sport.

Speaking publicly for the first time since Billy’s death, Vigar said the family had been left moving between grief and anger because she believes his death could have been prevented.

“He was 21 years old and he lost it playing football when he didn't need to,” she said.

The FA declined to tell the BBC what action it took following its 2022 review and has not publicly responded to the Vigar family’s accusation that previous warnings were not acted upon.