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Non-league footballer Daniel Wilkinson has died after collapsing during a game on Monday night, his club has confirmed.26-year-old Wilkinson was playing for Northern Premier League Division One South side Shaw Lane AFC in an Integro League Cup match against Brighouse Town when he collapsed.The league's website reported that he had suffered a "suspected heart attack" just after the hour mark. Wilkinson was treated on the pitch for 30 minutes before being taken to the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. The game was not resumed after his collapse.In a statement posted on the club's Facebook page, Shaw Lane chairman Craig Wood said:"It's with great sadness that we have to announce the tragic loss of Daniel Wilkinson who has sadly passed away after collapsing on the pitch during the game last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with [his] family and friends at this time."The club would like to thank everyone for their heartfelt messages and thoughts that we have received throughout the night. There are no more words at this time."Wilkinson was a new addition to the Shaw Lane squad, having joined from Rushall Olympic during the summer. He began his career on the books of current Premier League side Hull City. Speaking to BBC Sport, Shaw Lane manager Craig Elliot said:"He was such a great lad. I don't how we move on. It's just devastating. Everyone went to the hospital. We all deal with it in different ways, but we just have to support the family as much as we can."His mum and dad are such brave people. We signed him in pre-season, he had just finished university at Loughborough and moved in with his girlfriend in Sheffield."Deaths resulting from cardiac arrest are relatively rare in football, given the number of people playing the game regularly, though each case highlights the need for players to undergo regular heart screening. In particular, the deaths of high-profile players such as Daniel Jarque and Marc-Vivien Foé have brought this issue to the fore.
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