Glossop North End midfielder Astley Mulholland appeals to FA for more defibrillators

GLOSSOP NORTH END midfielder Astley Mulholland has petitioned the FA to install defibrillators at all grass-roots football clubs.

Non-League was left in shock back in September after Shaw Lane defender Daniel Wilkinson died after collapsing on the pitch during his club’s game against Brighouse Town.

Mulholland has personal experience of a similar situation, losing his brother Kyle 11 years ago after he suffered a cardiac arrest whilst playing.

The midfielder wants to ensure “unnecessary deaths never happen again” and is calling on the FA to make defibrillators compulsory at all football clubs, while also making sure trained people are always on-site during games.

Mulholland has started a petition, which currently has over 28,500 signatures, and hopes action is soon taken.

He said: “He (my brother) scored a goal and then just collapsed, basically. I tried to resuscitate him as best I could but unfortunately it wasn’t the case.

“Nothing has been done about it. The amount of money that is in football, nothing gets done about it at grass-roots level.

“I want to get as many defibrillators as possible out there to not just football grounds, but all sporting grounds – everywhere.

“Maybe then families won’t be greaving for the rest of their lives. When you go and play a game of football, nobody is expecting you not to come home afterwards.”