'Football reminded of its’ significance in the grand scheme of things'

Pat Nevin, writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter: Trying to find reasonable perspective in modern-day top-level football isn’t always easy, but when something truly serious happens the game understands its’ place.

Luton’s Tom Lockyer had a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth on Saturday and football was immediately reminded of its’ significance in the grand scheme of things.

Maybe Pope John Paul II summed it up best, “Amongst all unimportant subjects, football is by far the most important.” It isn’t more important than life!

Fortunately, other than a hospital A&E department, a football ground at this level is the best place to have a serious medical problem like this, and Tom was given the best care quickly.

He is responding well we hear and thank goodness the game is now prepared for these situations.

We have lost many over the years to cardiac arrests, I was there when Marc-Vivien Foe died back in 2003 in Lyon playing for Cameroon and there have been others, some very close to me, who didn’t make it.

The heart screenings and the checks are compulsory in the game at the top, and the further they can be rolled down the levels the better.

This multi-billion-dollar industry owes it to its grassroots. I was PFA chairman when the union first set up those mandatory heart screening tests, but we have gone further in the game by getting specialists and specialist equipment on the scene and at the ready as well.

It may have saved Tom’s life, and we wish him well.