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The Isthmian Premier Division game was suspended just 15 minutes in after the striker collided with a hard pitchside surface.

He was treated by an ambulance crew before a helicopter rushed him to hospital.

The fixture was then abandoned completely as the club confirmed Vigar had suffered a serious brain injury.

He was then placed into a coma and underwent an operation – but the injury was so serious he tragically wouldn’t recover.

The sad news of Billy’s passing was confirmed by Chichester City Football Club on Thursday evening, who released a statement from his family.

They said: “After sustaining a significant brain injury last Saturday, Billy Vigar was put in an induced coma.

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“On Tuesday he needed an operation to aid any chances of recovery.

“Although this helped, the injury proved to much for him and he passed away on Thursday (25th) morning.”

Billy’s distraught family added: “The responses to the original update show how much Billy was thought of and loved within the sport.

“His family are devastated that this has happened whilst he was playing the sport that he loved.”

At the time of the accident, Chichester FC said: “Billy received a significant brain injury and is currently in an induced coma in intensive care receiving the best possible treatment.

“It is too early to say what the outcome will be and even if things go well, there will be a long road to recovery.”

They followed up their statement with a post reading: “Love from the whole CCFC family Billy.”

Arsenal Football Club also released a statement on Thursday evening reflecting on his career at the club as an academy player, saying they were “deeply sorry” to hear he had passed away.

The statement read: “Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is deeply sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Chichester City forward and former Arsenal academy player, Billy Vigar.”

“As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ’the most Important of his life’ – and a character beloved by teammates and coaches alike,” it added.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.”

Football fans mourning Billy’s passing were pictured laying floral tributes and messages at Chichester FC’s ground on Thursday night.

Vigar, from Worthing, West Sussex, spent his youth career with Arsenal after joining at age 14 and signed a professional contract in July 2022.

He worked his way up to the U21 team in North London, alongside loan spells with Derby County U21 and Eastbourne.

In a post to mark his signing, the player said: “Very happy to have signed my first professional contract @arsenal.

“Proud moment for me and my family. The hard work continues.”

He left the club permanently in 2024 after being unable to progress to the senior team, joining Hastings United in the Non-League Premier before his move to Chichester.

Full statement from Arsenal:

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is deeply sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Chichester City forward and former Arsenal academy player, Billy Vigar.

Billy joined our academy on schoolboy terms aged 14, after being scouted at his hometown club Hove Rivervale FC and excelled as a striker at Hale End, scoring 17 goals in his debut season.

In 2020, his performances earned him a scholarship and joined us full-time for the 2020/21 season, his intake including current players Charles Sagoe Jr, Remy Mitchell and others such as Omari Hutchinson, Charlie Patino and Brook Norton-Cuffy.

Quick, powerful and fiercely determined, his first season as a scholar was blighted by a serious hamstring injury, but he made up for it in his second, scoring four goals in 18 under-18 appearances and signed professional terms for the club at the end of that 2021/22 season.

Billy went on to appear for us in the PL2 and EFL Trophy and proved to be an asset across the forward positions and even deputised in defence – his versatility illustrating his commitment to the coaching staff and his team.

He enjoyed loan spells at Derby County and Eastbourne Borough and at the end of the 2023/24 season, headed back to his native south coast, signing for Hastings United – prior to a move to Chichester just last month.

As well as his significant talent, Billy will always be remembered for his love of the game, pride at representing our football club – he once called the day he was spotted by our scouts as ‘the most important of his life’ – and a character beloved by teammates and coaches alike.

Our deepest condolences go out to the Vigar family and his many friends at this extremely difficult time.

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.