Arsenal have paid tribute to the ‘fiercely determined’ Billy Vigar with his former Gunners teammates sharing their memories after the footballer’s tragic death.
Vigar, 21, died on Thursday after suffering a ‘serious brain injury’ while playing for his team Chichester City on Saturday.
The striker is believed to have collided with a concrete wall while trying to keep the ball in play. The match was abandoned after just 13 minutes in a match against Wingate and Finchley in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Chichester announced his death on Thursday evening.
Vigar joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of 14 and signed his first professional contract with the Gunners in July 2022.
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He trained with the first-team aged just 16 and made appearances for the club’s Under-18 and Under-21 sides.
Vigar was part of the scholarship intake at Arsenal alongside Charles Sagoe Jr and Remy Mitchell, who are still at the club.
Following the tragic news, Sagoe Jr and Mitchell paid tribute to their former teammate, sharing old pictures of them playing together for Arsenal’s youth team, celebrating success in various youth competitions as teenagers with the message ‘rest in peace, Billy.’
Charlie Patino, who left Arsenal last year and now plays in Spain with Deportivo la Coruna, is another former teammate who shared pictures of the two together in their days training in the Arsenal academy.
In a lengthy statement chronicling his career at the club, Arsenal spoke warmly of their former player.
‘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,’ their statement said.
‘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.’