Tributes Pour In After Tragic Death Of Chichester City Footballer Billy Vigar

(c) Sky News

Tributes have come flooding in following the death of a young footballer.

The Sussex football community has been left devastated by the tragic death of 21-year-old Chichester City striker, Billy Vigar, who passed away on Thursday after sustaining a serious brain injury during a match last weekend.

Billy, who began his career at the Arsenal academy before spells at Derby County, Eastbourne Borough and Hastings United, had been playing for Chichester City in an away fixture when he suffered a devastating head injury.

He was placed into an induced coma but heartbreakingly did not recover.

Fans, teammates and friends have described the young player as “so young, so talented”, with many struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.

Chichester City season ticket holder James Wilson said:

“Nobody should be able to go and play the sport they love and not come home again.

"It’s just so, so tragic. So young, so talented.”

At Chichester City’s ground, floral tributes and heartfelt messages have been laid in Billy’s memory, creating a poignant scene of love and respect for the Worthing-born forward.

Beyond the grief, his passing has already sparked calls for change.

A petition urging football authorities to remove brick and concrete barriers around non-league grounds has gathered thousands of signatures in just a few days.

Its founder, Jack Mison, wrote:

“Billy’s passing is not an isolated incident.

"Countless players at all levels have suffered serious injuries as a result of these dangerous barriers.

"They serve no sporting purpose, yet they create an undeniable and avoidable hazard.”

Campaigners and charities have echoed those concerns.

Luke Griggs, chief executive of Headway UK, a brain injury charity, said lessons must be learned:

“This tragedy has to be the catalyst for further discussions about how to mitigate the risk of head injuries.

"Lower league clubs cannot be expected to rebuild overnight, but affordable solutions must be found to keep players safe.”

The sense of loss is being felt far beyond Chichester. Messages of condolence have poured in from Billy’s former clubs — including Arsenal, Derby County, Eastbourne Borough and Hastings United — while Chichester City described him as “forever in the hearts of all at the club.”

Matches scheduled for this weekend, including Chichester City’s tie against Lewes and Wingate & Finchley’s fixture against Canvey Island, have been postponed as both clubs and fans come together to grieve.

For many, Billy’s memory will not only live on in the goals he scored or the games he played, but in the urgent conversations now taking place to make grassroots and non-league football safer.