Heartfelt gift is gratefully received

Stuart Rose, Martin Swallow and Mike Rayner from the Bury Town Supporters Club are pictured handing over the new emergency equipment to kit manager Doug Mott before the Rams kicked off against Hemel Hempstead Town in the FA Cup's Second Qualifying Round.

The potential life-saver was purchased with a donation of several hundred pounds from supporters after the club made getting one a priority following the sad death of Tonbridge Angels trialist Junior Dian in pre-season after he collapsed on the pitch while playing at Whyteleafe.

Bury Town's finance director Ian Cowie is delighted that everyone playing and visiting Ram Meadow can now rest assured that they have the best possible equipment available on site in the event of an emergency.

Cowie said: "Its great that we have been able to purchase some useful equipment, without the need to use the club's own funds, so our thanks go out to the Supporters Club for their assistance with the money.

"They agreed that this was a very worthwhile cause and while we all hope that we never have to use the defibrillator, it is important that we have the equipment ready and available."

Nearly half the Ryman League's clubs purchased heavily subsidised defibrillators in 2013 and 2014 after the Football Association and the British Heart Foundation teamed up to set up a £1.2m fund to underwrite two thirds of the cost after former England Under-21 star Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in March 2012 while playing for Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Ryman League, along with others from around the country, successfully lobbied the FA for action in the wake of the near tragedy, prompting the setting up of the fund a year after Muamba's collapse. Instead of paying around £1000 for a defibrillator, clubs paid just £318, including VAT, knocking two thirds off the cost.

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