Church Road (Whyteleafe) Tuesday, July 7th, 2015 k/o 19:45   1st Team Friendly Attendance: 80         Whyteleafe 0-2 ABD Tonbridge Angels
2015 /16

Comments :

Whyteleafe 0A2 Tonbridge Angels - Tonbridge Angels footballer Junior Dian, 23, collapses and tragically dies during game at Whyteleafe Monday 06th July 2015 Whyteleafe Whyteleafe 0 – 2 Tonbridge Angels Tonbridge Angels Location 15 Church Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey CR3 0AR Kickoff 07/07/2015 19:45 WHYTELEAFE 0-2 TONBRIDGE ANGELS (Match abandoned after 77 minutes due to serious injury) Pre-Season Friendly Tuesday 7th July 2015 Stephen McCartney reports from Church Road A footballer tragically lost his life overnight after collapsing during the second half of a pre-season friendly between Whyteleafe and Tonbridge Angels on Tuesday night. Tonbridge Angels were leading 2-0 at the time of the 77th minute abandonment – courtesy of two headed goals from Tom Phipp and Nathan Elder inside the opening five minutes. Junior Dian, 23, was playing for Tonbridge Angels as a half-time substitute when he collapsed during the second half and both managers agreed to call a halt to proceedings as club staff battled to save the young man’s life out on the pitch. Club staff – and then paramedics, who took a very long time to arrive at Whyteleafe’s football ground at Church Road – battled to save the defender’s life on the pitch. It was announced on Wednesday morning that the player, who arrived at the ground along with Tonbridge players Jerrome Sobers and James Folkes, had passed away at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. This is a sad, sad day for football in Kent and our thoughts go out to the family of Dian on this most devastating day. Tonbridge Angels issued the following statement on their club website before the footballer’s passing, late on Tuesday night. “Football was put into sharp perspective this evening when suddenly without warning a young Angels trialist Junior Dian, 23, collapsed unconscious on the pitch with no other player near him. “The incident occurred 20 minutes into the second half at the Church Road ground of Whyteleafe FC during a friendly match against Tonbridge Angels. “Both physios rushed immediately onto the pitch and rendered CPR before paramedics arrived. “Junior (was) transferred to St George’s Hospital, Tooting. All our thoughts at the club at this time are with his family.” Second Article published: 07:30 – 08/07/2015 Whyteleafe: Sheikh Ceesay, Tommy Smith (trialist 46), Nathan Simpson (Gary Webb 46), Louis Hollingsworth (Tom Pratt 46), Jermal King (Dean Hanlon 46), Osa Obamwonyi (trialist 46), Ryan Fowler (Josh Double 46, Junior Kumbi 65), Fernan Francis (Aaron Leecox 46), Roscoe Dsane (Louis Longhurst 46), Jason Henry (Dylan Merchant 46), Jensen Grant (Shawn Lyle 46). Tonbridge Angels: Anthony Di Bernado (Aaron McGuigan 56), James Folkes (Junior Dian 46), Jack Parter (Callum McCarthy 56), Lee Carey (Tom Pearson 46), Sonny Miles (Laurence Ball 46), Jerrome Sobers (Charlie Slocombe 43), Nick Wheeler (Cameron Milham 56), Tom Phipp (Ben Steele 46), Nathan Elder (Luke Blewden 46), Tommy Whitnell (Aiden Blanchard 46), Charlie Webster (Bret Milham 46). Goals: Tom Phipp 4, Nathan Elder 5 Attendance: 80 Referee: Mr Mark Edwards (Sutton, Surrey) Assistants: Mr Kieron Horne (Caterham, Surrey) & Mr Martin Williams (Horley, Surrey)