Matchday tribute for Baggies fan who died after game

Mark Townsend suffered a heart attack at Hillsborough

Tributes are expected at a West Bromwich Albion match against Sheffield Wednesday, in memory of a fan who died after last year's treverse fixture.

Baggies fan Mark Townsend, 57, suffered a heart attack at Hillsborough in September 2024. A coroner concluded he died of natural causes but the response to get him medical aid could have been quicker.

A 57th minute applause is planned at The Hawthorns on Saturday, where a Sheffield Wednesday supporter will be presented with a £2,000 cheque for a defibrillator campaign.

Paul Gregory started the campaign after the death of his daughter in 2023. The cheque will be used for defibrillators to be installed in and around The Hawthorns.

Mr Gregory, a Wednesday fan from Wolverhampton, has been invited on to the pitch after launching the One in Every Corner campaign.

The defibrillators will have Mr Townsend's name on them and are part of a mission to get the devices installed in every corner of every football stadium in the Premier League and EFL.

Paul 'Tango' Gregory's daughter, Lauren, died last December

He began the campaign in memory of his daughter Lauren Walker, who died at the age of 29.

She had previously suffered a cardiac arrest but survived thanks to paramedics with a defibrillator.

The 62-year-old transport manager said he hoped everyone in the Hawthorns would take part in the applause in support of Mr Townsend's family.

"We want something out there that Mark is remembered by," he explained. "To make sure his name is never forgotten."

Sheffield Wednesday said the medical response time on the day was comparable to hospital standards

The campaign is being supported by The Red Sky Foundation, which funds defibrillators and has warned cardiac arrests are "unfortunately happening more and more often".

Mr Gregory said it was "emotional" work and he was doing it to keep his daughter's legacy alive.

"We just want to keep saving lives to keep Lauren's name out there," he added.

"The football family is one massive family. Rivalries apart, the football family is absolutely huge."

'Unnecessary delays'

Earlier this month, Mr Townsend's family said they had hoped for stronger recommendations following an inquest into his death.

Senior coroner Tanyka Rawden said Mr Townsend had suffered an "unsurvivable" heart attack, caused by coronary artery disease.

But she issued a prevention of future deaths report, noting that stewards struggled to locate a radio to call paramedics which caused causing "unnecessary" delays.

In a statement, Sheffield Wednesday said the medical response time on the day was comparable to hospital standards but it would "carefully consider the coroner's recommendation" to improve matchday communication.