Minute's Silence To Be Held In Honour Of Daniel Wilkinson Before Tonight's Marine Meeting

Following the tragic news of Shaw Lane's Daniel Wilkinson untimely death this morning, Blyth Spartans will be joining the rest of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League clubs in holding a minute's silence for the defender this evening.

Both the supporters of Blyth Spartans and Marine are asked to observe a minute's silence for the former Hull City and Rushall Olympic defender prior to tonight's 7:45pm start at Croft Park - after

Wilkinson collapsed following a suspected heart attack

during his side's abandoned Integro Doodson Sports Cup tie with Brighouse Town last night.

Wilkinson - a former teammate of current Spartans centre-back Gavin Caines at Rushall - received treatment from both clubs and the emergency services, using Town's own stadium defibrillator. Despite their best efforts for nearly half an hour, the 26-year-old failed to respond to treatment and was rushed by ambulance to hospital, where sadly he was later pronounced dead.