Alex Fletcher Urges Immediate Action After Billy Vigar’s Tragic “Preventable” Death

Former Bath City player Alex Fletcher has voiced deep concerns that more footballers could suffer fatal injuries from collisions with perimeter walls unless the Football Association (FA) implements urgent safety reforms. His warnings follow the tragic death of 21-year-old Chichester forward Billy Vigar, who sustained a fatal head injury after hitting a concrete wall during an Isthmian League Premier Division match on September 20.

Vigar’s collision occurred as he attempted to keep the ball in play against Wingate and Finchley. He was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma but ultimately did not survive the injury. The loss shocked the footballing community, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta among those expressing condolences.

Fletcher, 26, knows all too well the dangers posed by unsafe perimeter structures. In November 2022, he suffered a fractured skull after striking an advertising board reinforced with concrete blocks. He spent 10 days in a coma and now lives with permanent deafness in one ear and vertigo. Despite briefly returning to football with Weston-super-Mare, Fletcher retired in 2024 due to his lasting injuries.

In the wake of his own experience, Fletcher has repeatedly called on the FA to address the risks of hard, unforgiving perimeter walls—calls that, he says, were largely ignored until now. The catastrophic death of Vigar has pushed the FA to announce an immediate safety review of perimeter walls across the National League system.

“I think it’s too little, too late,” Fletcher told BBC Breakfast. “This was an entirely preventable tragedy. Billy’s family can’t get him back, but this has to serve as a catalyst for real change — quickly. Hundreds of matches are played weekly, and the risk remains high at every level. The FA must act fast to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Fletcher advocates for the removal or reconstruction of dangerous walls using safer materials. Where rebuilding is not feasible, he insists that existing walls must be padded adequately to protect players.

Billy Vigar’s untimely passing is a stark reminder of the dangers athletes face when safety measures lag behind. Fletcher’s urgent call highlights the pressing need for immediate reforms to protect players on the pitch and prevent future tragedies.