A FAN who collapsed during a non-league football match at the weekend has died.

On Saturday, emergency services were called to Bacup Borough FC’s Brian Boys Stadium after 54-year-old Mark Lord, from Stacksteads, collapsed.

Mr Lord was treated with a defibrillator as the club’s physio Jack Fairhurst and players Ross Mallinson and Gareth Wager rushed to help him, performing CPR until the ambulance and paramedics could arrive.

Rumour circulated on social media that there had been trouble at the game, but shortly after the final whistle, Bacup Borough manager Brent Peters released a statement explaining what had happened.

Mr Peters said: “Contrary to the rumours that have been circulating on various social media platforms there was no trouble at the Bacup Borough FC vs Campion AFC game today.

“Sadly a spectator collapsed in the main stand and the defibrillator was used.

“The club would like to thank Ross Mallinson, Jack Fairhurst, club physio and Gareth Wager who carried out CPR until the paramedics arrived on the scene.

“This was a traumatic situation and our thoughts are with the spectator's family at this difficult time.”

In an updated statement provided to the Lancashire Telegraph on Sunday evening, Mr Peters confirmed that sadly the fan had died.

Mr Peters said: “Sadly the fan passed away. He was Mark Lord, 54, from Stacksteads.

“Mark was a supporter of Bacup Borough Football Club and Bacup Cricket Club.

“At the final whistle, I was the last person to go down the tunnel, I received panic shouts coming from the main stand of ‘Brent, Brent someone has collapsed’.

“I immediately ran through the ground and crowded club house to access the defib which is located in my office.

“I then ran back into the changing rooms shouting for our physio Jack Fairhurst who was followed by myself and two players, Ross Mallinson who works for Greater Manchester Fire Service and another player Gareth Wager.

“Those three, Wager, Mallinson and Jack Fairhurst were fantastic, performing CPR for what seemed like over 30 minutes.

"This was a traumatic situation, it was not helped by the length of time it was taking for the emergency services to arrive, all of the time a Mrs Halshaw, who I am led to believe was his nurse was speaking to control.

"Once the emergency services arrived, they also was brilliant but working in very difficult circumstances from the position in the main stand where Mark was.

"Sadly despite the efforts of everyone, it was too late.

"From further information we have received, people around the main stand were saying they thought he was asleep right on half time, which indicates he could have suffered a cardiac arrest long before the full time whistle.

"This really has hit a lot of people hard, everyone involved did everything they could, there was no stone left unturned, sadly it was not enough and now our thoughts are with Mark’s family and friends, may he rest in peace."

Club captain, Michael Gervin said on Sunday evening: "Being the captain of Bacup Borough I think it's only right that I say a few words on behalf of me and the lads regarding what happened yesterday.

"First of all I need to give a special mention to Ross Mallinson, Jack Fairhurst and Gareth Wager for giving CPR.

"The lads put in another top shift and getting three points, the changing room wasn't its usual self.

"It was a total and utter shock once things had been brought to our attention.

"And of course in situations like this football is irrelevant. We now know that he has passed away.

"He passed away watching his favourite team. Mark Lord will be in our minds every time we step onto the pitch.

"If we ever needed any motivation this is it. We represent the Borough.

"We represent the Valley.

"And we represent Mark."

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said: "I can confirm we attended a medical emergency at the stadium following a call at 4.56pm."