'Defib' delivery kicks off 2013

Chorley have kicked off 2013 as the latest Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club to have a life-saving defibrillator kit on standby at their fixtures.

Thanks to their supporters' side – AFC Chorley – the Magpies have backed a league wide campaign promoting the use of the medical equipment launched after the collapse and near death of Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba in the Premier League attracted worldwide headlines.

Magpies manager Garry Flitcroft was presented with the defibrillator by James Wilson, his opposite number from the Magpies supporters’ side, before Chorley’s Christmas Saturday game against Whitby Town at Victory Park.

The unofficial Magpies raised the cash over the summer during the Euros when they manned Chorley’s Social Club for England games. Fans also secured part-funding from Northwest Ambulance and the emergency service laid on a defibrillator training session for club staff in the run up to Christmas.

Wilson also handed over a set of new tracksuits for the squad after fans successfully lobbied for a grant from Halewood International’s John Halewood Foundation, owners of club sponsors Crabbies.

Chorley's are the fourth member club to secure a 'defib' since the campaign by the Evo-Stik NPL was launched in the summer. Buxton were presented with their defibrillator by the Westfield Heath Trust in October and Farsley and Chasetown both purchased the life-saving equipment at the start of the season. Warrington Town are leading fundraising efforts by other clubs.

Players are also getting involved in highlighting the risk posed by undiagnosed heart conditions to young players following Muamba's collapse at Tottenham Hotspur last season. Before Christmas, Stocksbridge Park Steels' Anthony Tansley teamed up with Borrowash Victoria’s players to record a new version of Band Aid’s famous 'Do They Know It's Christmas' hit to raise funds for the charity Cry - Cardiac Arrest in the Young.

Their rendition of the festive anthem raised more than £2000 for the medical charity last month with funds still coming in after becoming an instant hit on Youtube with more than 1,000 hits within days. The singing stars got together to honour their former teammate and friend Joe Kellogg who collapsed and died while training with the East Midlands Counties League Vics in July 2011.

To join or support AFC Chorley email: afcchorley@yahoo.co.uk