Defibrillator collection in memory of fan who died

Mark Townsend died during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion in September 2024

A collection will be held at a football game in a bid to fundraise for more defibrillators at football grounds, in memory of a fan who died at a game last year.

West Bromwich Albion season ticket holder Mark Townsend, 57, suffered a medical emergency during a game at Hillsborough in September 2024 and died in the stands.

A collection will take place before Albion's home game against Leicester City on Friday night to raise money for the Red Sky Foundation's 'One In Every Corner' campaign.

Mark Townsend's brother, Steve, is involved with the collection and said he hoped it would prevent any other family feeling like his had over the last 12 months.

The 'One In Every Corner' campaign hopes to install four defibrillators in every corner of every football ground in the UK.

Steve Townsend said: "From my understanding, the speed of defibrillator intervention can make quite a marked difference.

"I think we've got more than enough at the Albion but in my opinion, another four [would not go] amiss.

"If someone's only got 30 seconds to walk to one instead of a minute and a half - it could make all the difference to someone's loved one.

"I don't think you can have too many of them ... especially in a game that's awash with money."

He admitted: "It feels a bit strange that it's dependent on the fans to implement these things in some of the grounds."

A tribute to Mark will also be displayed on the screen at the game in the 57th minute.

"It's always going to be a hard one seeing an image of him," Mr Townsend said.

"His image is ingrained on my brain but seeing him in a setting like that, it can get the better of you sometimes."

The Baggies paid tribute to Mark Townsend in a previous match between Middlesbrough FC

Mr Townsend was supposed to go to the game where his brother died, but his son Matthew went instead as Mr Townsend's wife had recently had a stroke and was only just out of hospital.

He was watching the football match at home when he heard the commentator say somebody had been taken ill, before his phone started ringing "off the hook" and Matthew told him that his uncle had collapsed.

Mr Townsend said his son had withdrawn into himself for the first few months, but after some counselling was doing better.

"It's not forgotten, it's still there at the forefront, but he's managing it quite well," he said.

An inquest into Mark's death will take place on Monday, a year and a day after he died.

Sheffield's senior coroner Tanyka Rawden said the inquest would consider what medical equipment was available, its functionality, the number of medical staff available and their qualifications.

The timing of the response and the "appropriateness of the medical treatment given" will also be considered.

Mr Townsend said: "We wanted the inquest but it's opened up old wounds and it's back at the forefront of the mind again.

"It's not about going after compensation, I just want it to be safe for people to do something that they love like going to [watch] football."