Family praise life-saving action after linesman collapses at match
Written by HFM News on 18th March 2026
The family of a football official who collapsed during a match at Desborough Town have praised those who helped save his life.
Assistant referee Martin Weedon, 73, suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after kick-off in Saturday’s game and was treated on the pitch before a defibrillator was used to restart his heart.
The incident happened during Desborough Town’s South Midlands League Division One Cup semi-final against Belstone.
Martin Weedon
Belstone captain Mitchell Swain and both teams’ physios Alan Dunphy and Carl Mallett were among those who responded immediately.
Martin, from Rothwell, who has been a referee and linesman for more than 40 years, was taken to Kettering General Hospital for further treatment and is now set to have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted.
A number of well-known footballers have had ICDs fitted following similar on-pitch incidents.
Martin has passed on his own thanks to all those involved on Saturday and his son-in-law, Andy Hobbs, spoke to HFM:
