A NON-LEAGUE enthusiast has died after he collapsed at the North Greenford United v Bedford Town game on Saturday.
David Barnes, 62, lived in Ealing and regularly attended Harrow Borough, Hanwell Town and other local Non-League clubs.
He was at North Greenford’s Berkeley Fields to watch their Evo-Stik League Southern Central match against Bedford but the game was abandoned shortly after kick off as Barnes collapsed on the pathway in front of the covered standing area at the clubhouse end.
North Greenford secretary and physio Barbara Bivens, supported by committee member Richard Rooney and Bedford Town supporter Paul Reading did all they could to revive Barnes, with Bivens making use of the club’s defibrillator.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and tried to revive Barnes before he was stretchered to an ambulance and taken to hospital at around 4pm.
Despite the efforts of everybody involved, he sadly passed away later at Northwick Park hospital.
David’s son Peter said: “He enjoyed following Non-League football and often said that he was at his happiest when he was part of the crowd of one of the clubs he would ‘ground-hop’ around. He would be gutted to learn that the match was abandoned on his behalf.”
A North Greenford statement added: “Peter has extended his heartfelt thanks to all involved in this incident, particularly to Barbara Bivens, Richard Rooney, Paul Reading and the NHS paramedics for the efforts they made to revive his father. He was also extremely grateful for the respect shown to his father by both sets of supporters.
“Everyone associated with North Greenford and Bedford Town extend their sincere condolences to all of David’s family at this extremely sad time. May he rest in peace.”
