Clitheroe FC has secured full grant funding to replace the concrete perimeter wall surrounding its pitch following the death of a young non-league footballer whose fatal injuries prompted a nationwide safety review.
The club has been awarded funding covering 100 per cent of the cost of removing the existing concrete pitchside barrier at the Loom Loft Stadium and replacing it with a modern metal mesh fencing system.
The move comes after the death of Chichester City striker Billy Vigar, 21, who suffered a serious brain injury after colliding with a concrete perimeter wall during a match against Wingate & Finchley in September 2025. He later died in hospital.
The incident led the Football Association (FA) to carry out a review of perimeter walls and ground safety requirements at non-league football grounds.
In a statement, Clitheroe FC said the FA has since introduced new criteria requiring clubs with concrete perimeter barriers to make appropriate changes as soon as reasonably practicable.
The club has successfully secured funding through a grant scheme launched in partnership between the FA and the Premier League Stadium Fund.
Work is due to begin in October and is expected to take around two weeks. The project has been scheduled during a period when the club has no home fixtures.
The club said: “This is another important step in the ongoing development of the Loom Loft Stadium and, most importantly, our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of every player who plays at our ground.”
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Clitheroe also thanked the FA and the Premier League Stadium Fund for their support in helping deliver the improvement.
The latest upgrade is another significant investment in the club's facilities.
Earlier this year, Ribble Valley Borough Council approved plans to demolish and replace the club's ageing clubhouse with a new community hub. Planning documents said the current building, which dates back around 25 years, had reached the end of its design life and was no longer adequate for growing crowds.
Last year, the club was also granted permission to replace six ageing floodlights with four new LED units, a scheme intended to improve energy efficiency and reduce the impact on nearby residents.
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