Non-League Paper Programme: Finally, the FA takes action on dangerous pitch barriers

Last week, we received confirmation that new pitch perimeter barrier rules have been introduced by the Football Association for Non-League clubs following its review into ground safety across the National League System.

It means that solid brick, breeze block and concrete barriers around pitches will finally now be a thing of the past at grounds across the country at Steps 1-6.

After Vigar’s death, a petition calling for a ban on brick walls around football pitches across the NLS received more than 4,000 signatures.

Critical

It came after Bath City’s Alex Fletcher suffered a fractured skull after colliding with a concrete advertising hoarding during a match in November 2022.

Six months later, then Sports Minister Stuart Andrew joined forces with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) in writing to the FA, Premier League, English Football League and National League, calling on them to adopt a more proactive approach to player safety in this area.

Now, almost four years on, it has taken the most tragic of deaths to spark any kind of action. And even then it took 11 months to deliberate and pass! I mean, what on earth was there to discuss?

I’ve been openly critical of the Football Association and the relevant authorities for letting this fester for so long.

Still, we got there in the end and at least now Billy Vigar’s legacy can go to helping protect and preserve player safety in years to come.

Affected clubs

Around 160 football clubs affected by the changes have been informed of the updated regulations and will be required to take appropriate action “within a reasonable timeframe”.

They have been told that all existing barriers that don’t meet the criteria must be removed, or at the very least covered or protected.

Financial support will be available to clubs with the FA and the Premier League providing funding through the Premier League Stadium Fund.

In a statement last week, the FA said: “We have undertaken a review of pitch perimeter walls across the National League System and Women’s National League to identify what improvements can be made to our Stadium Accreditation Criteria that will help clubs mitigate potential safety risks at their grounds and stadiums.

“As a result of this ongoing phased review, which has been conducted by independent Health and Safety experts, we have updated our Stadium Accreditation Criteria for the 2026/27 season.

“This includes introducing revised criteria relating to pitch perimeter barriers, which no longer permits solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers around pitches across the National League System for men [Steps 1-6], and the Women’s National League [Tiers 3-4].

“Any existing solid brick, breeze block or concrete barriers must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable or covered with suitable protection if they cannot be removed for structural reasons.

“We have informed the clubs at this level that will be required to take action as a result of these changes.”

Welcome step

Following last Friday’s announcement, a PFA spokesperson said: “Following the tragic death of Billy Vigar last year, we again highlighted these concerns and made clear our view that the lack of progress and leadership on this issue had been unacceptable.

“As part of working groups set up by the FA following Billy’s death, we pushed for the FA’s Stadium Accreditation criteria to be amended to ban these types of walls so that there is a clear and centralised policy for clubs to follow.

“Given that, it’s a welcome step that the FA’s regulations have now been changed to reflect that position.

“However, it will now be important for progress on the removal of such walls – and effective mitigation of risks ahead of their removal – to be properly monitored, and for clubs to be given the support they need so that these changes can happen as soon as possible.

“Player safety must always come first.”