Football fan groups are gathering evidence to provide to Football League bosses about the circumstances surrounding the death of West Brom supporter Mark Townsend last Saturday.
Mr Townsend died after a medical emergency in the stands during the Championship fixture between Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom at Hillsborough. He was 57.
Some West Brom supporters used social media to give their accounts of events and the Football Supporters’ Association are liaising with local fan groups, including the West Brom Independent Supporters’ Trust, before presenting their findings to the EFL. Albion are also in dialogue with EFL officials.
Fans in the West Stand, which houses away supporters, were trying to bring about a pause in the game when the incident happened.
Mark Townsend (pictured) died after a medical emergency in the stands during the Championship fixture between Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom at Hillsborough
Mark Townsend died after falling ill during the first half of the Championship fixture
West Bromwich Albion posted an online tribute to Baggies fan Mark Townsend and said their players would be wearing black armbandsÂ
Mr Townsend’s brother, Steve, said in a post on X that his heart had been ‘truly broken’ by his brother’s death. ‘My son had to watch my brother pass away and lose an uncle, and is left with those memories, I have had to break the news to my parents and his wife,’ he wrote.
There are allegations that paramedics took 10 minutes to reach the part of the stand where away fans were stationed. Attempts to give CPR to Townsend were started by an off-duty paramedic who was among the Albion supporters.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire ambulance service NHS trust said: ‘Medical cover for spectators at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is provided by a private company and their staff were first on scene at this emergency.
‘Yorkshire ambulance service is contracted by the club to provide medical cover for the players. A critical care paramedic and emergency ambulance were subsequently dispatched to the scene to assist with the incident.’
A Sheffield Wednesday spokesperson said: ‘The club continue to liaise with West Bromwich Albion and all relevant parties as we collectively establish the full circumstances regarding this tragic loss of life. We echo absolutely the request of West Bromwich Albion that Mr Townsend’s family are allowed to grieve privately.’
General view of Hillsborough during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and West Bromwich Albion at Hillsborough
West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberán, pictured watching his side take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough last Saturday
West Brom were due to pay tribute to Mr Townsend ahead of Tuesday’s match against Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns. Carlos Corberan’s team planned to wear black armbands and fans have been invited to applaud in the 57th minute.