The tragic death of 21-year-old Chichester City forward Billy Vigar has rocked the footballing community.
Among those affected is former Eastbourne Borough coach Mark Beard, who is grieving the loss of his brother, ex-Liverpool Women’s manager Matt Beard, who passed away just six days ago.
Mark paid homage to Billy Vigar, an Arsenal academy graduate, who sustained a ‘significant brain injury’ during a recent game. The forward ended up in an induced coma following a collision with a concrete wall while attempting to keep the ball in play.
‘I’m tremendously sorry for Billy and his family during this tragic time,’ Beard, who oversaw Vigar’s first senior match, shared on X. ‘I cherished everything about him. His family, along with his girlfriend, attended every game — it’s heartbreaking. Billy, you’re truly in a better place now. Love you.’
This marks a devastating second blow for the former professional turned manager, whose brother’s passing last week left many in shock and led to a period of mourning.
Former Liverpool Women’s manager Matt Beard (left) , pictured alongside his brother Mark, passed away last week
Mark paid an emotional tribute to Billy Vigar, who he handed his senior debut, after his tragic death on Thursday
Matt Beard twice managed Liverpool Women during his 17-year career in the women’s game, winning back-to-back league titles in 2013 and 2014.
Starting his coaching career in 2008, he worked with teams including Chelsea, Millwall Lionesses, and West Ham in addition to the Reds. Beard recently took up the Burnley manager role but resigned after just two months.
Tributes flooded in, with former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes describing him as a ‘champion of the women’s game’.
Former Lioness Fara Williams fought back tears on BBC Sport as live WSL coverage paused to remember him.
While the cause of Beard’s death remains unconfirmed, his son Harry suggested it might have been suicide, posting on social media when his father’s death was announced: ‘Suicide is never the answer, reach out. call 111, or 999. please don’t take your own life, we all miss you, dad.’
In the days since his brother’s passing, Mark has continue to pay tribute.
In response to the eulogies paid to Beard by his former club Liverpool, Mark wrote: ‘You really don’t realise bruv how much you are loved. Thank you to [Liverpool] for what they have done and said since Matt’s passing. Love you more than you know mate.’
Tributes have similarly flooded in for Vigar, alongside reflection on the circumstances that allowed a player to lose his life during a match. Hours after his death was confirmed football fans launched a petition to ban brick walls next to pitches.
He was part of Arsenal’s under-21s side until last year and enjoyed spells at various clubs
The football world was sent into shock following news of Beard’s sudden death aged 47
Chichester had been playing away at Wingate and Finchley in the London borough of Barnet, whose stadium has a brick wall running alongside the pitch. It is believed Vigar collided with the wall after trying to keep the ball in play.
Only last month, part of the breeze block wall collapsed to the side of one of the goals, causing the club’s chairman Aron Sharpe to hit out at Dulwich Hamlet fans.
Supporters now feel Vigar’s death was avoidable. A petition for ‘Vigar’s Law’ banning brick walls around pitches had gathered more than 1,000 signatures by Thursday night.
‘We, football lovers, urgently call for the removal of brick walls and other hard, immovable structures surrounding football pitches,’ the petition on Change.org reads.
‘Billy’s passing is not an isolated incident – countless players at all levels have suffered serious injuries, including broken bones, concussions, and life-altering trauma, as a result of these dangerous barriers.
‘Many pitches, especially at grassroots and community level, remain bordered by solid brick walls placed only a few feet from the touchline. These walls serve no essential sporting purpose, yet they create an undeniable and avoidable hazard.
‘Clubs, local councils, and sports authorities have a legal and moral obligation to provide a safe environment. Allowing hazardous structures to remain once the danger is known is a breach of that duty.
‘Billy Vigar’s death must be the last. We owe it to his memory – and to every player who steps onto a football pitch – to ensure that no one else suffers such a needless tragedy.’
Football fans have launched a petition to ban brick walls being placed next to pitches
In 2022, a Bath City player, Alex Fletcher, suffered multiple skull fractures after a horrifying collision with a concrete advertising hoarding. He was put into a coma and needed emergency brain surgery but survived.
Flowers have been laid outside Chichester City’s ground with condolences expressed from across the football world, led by his former clubs Arsenal, Chichester, Derby County, Eastbourne Borough, and Hastings United.
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details
