By Hannah Murdoch
Coventry Evening Telegraph
Copyright 2006 Coventry Newspapers Limited
All Rights Reserved
A former Nuneaton schools football player has died after collapsing during a match.
Frantic efforts were made to revive him, but he died later in hospital.
Young father, Matt Gadsby, a former north Warwickshire schoolboy, collapsed during Hinckley United’s Conference North away match against Harrogate Town on Saturday.
The former Mansfield and Walsall defender, who was 27, fell after 20 minutes of the match at Wetherby Road. The game was abandoned.
The former Polesworth schoolboy began his football career with Walsall before moving to Mansfield, Kidderminster and Forest Green, He fell while play was at the opposite end of the pitch. No other player was involved in the incident.
Paramedics battled for more than an hour to resuscitate him on the pitch, racing from a North Yorkshire ambulance station next to the ground. An ambulance drove on to the pitch and took him to hospital, but he died shortly after in Harrogate District Hospital, 300 yards from the stadium.
Kevin Downes, Hinckley chairman, said: “This is an absolute tragedy and our thoughts are with Matthew’s family and friends.
“Incidents like this put everything into perspective and no-one can quite come to terms with what has happened.
“The medics were out on the pitch within seconds, their treatment was first class and they did everything they could along with staff at the hospital. Matthew had made a big impact on the football club during his time at the Marston’s Stadium and he will be sadly missed by everyone.”
The player had signed a one-year deal with Hinckley United over the summer and the club said he had been in “outstanding form”.
He was a builder. He grew up in Sutton Coldfield and lived in Swadlincote in Derbyshire. He leaves a wife, Sarah, and a daughter.
Hinckley United’s game at Moor Green tomorrow night has been postponed.