Second chance to save a life

The Ryman League's clubs have been handed a second chance to purchase heavily subsidised defibrillators by the Football Association and the British Heart Foundation.

Thanks to a unique partnership between the FA and BHA, more than a third of the league's clubs have already purchased the life-saving equipment since the launch of a £1.2m Defibrillator Fund in March to underwrite two thirds of the costs and also provide life-saving training to thousands of fans, officials and players.

Instead of paying around £1000 for a defibrillator, a total of 26 current Ryman clubs paid just £318, including VAT, knocking two thirds off the cost. More than 900 clubs at Steps 1-6 are eligible to take advantage of the scheme and organisers have now reopened the fund and set a deadline of August 20 for fresh applications from Ryman clubs.

Awareness around sudden cardiac arrests was heightened after former England Under-21 star Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest in the Tottenham Hotspur versus Bolton Wanderers FA Cup tie on March 17 last year. 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.

The Ryman clubs who purchased a defibrillator when the scheme was originally launched in March are: AFC Sudbury, Bognor Regis Town, Canvey Island, Cheshunt, Chipstead, Dulwich Hamlet, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Harlow Town, Hendon, Herne Bay, Horsham, Hythe Town, Kingstonian, Maidstone United, Soham Town Rangers, Waltham Forest, Ware, Wealdstone, Wingate & Finchley and Worthing.

New member clubs Dereham Town, Burnham Ramblers, AFC Hornchurch, VCD, Guernsey and Peacehaven & Telscombe also took advantage of the FA's scheme at the end of last season while with their respective leagues.

To view the BHA's training video visit the British Heart Foundation's website. For more information clubs should contact Ryman League Secretary Kellie Discipline via email at: kellie@isthmian.co.uk.