Daniel Wilkinson: Non-League footballer dies after suffering suspected heart attack during match

26-year-old Daniel Wilkinson died in hospital on Monday night after collapsing during a match between Shaw Lane and Brighouse Town

Daniel Wilkinson died after collapsing during a match between Shaw Lane and Brighouse Town (Facebook)

A non-league footballer has collapsed and died during a match on Monday while playing for Shaw Lane, the club have confirmed.

Daniel Wilkinson, 26, collapsed on the pitch while playing for Shaw Lane in a cup match against Brighouse Town at the St Giles Road stadium. Wilkinson received treatment on the pitch for more than half an hour before being taken to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. The match was abandoned after about an hour in order for Wilkinson to be treated.

He received CPR before an ambulance arrived at the stadium after he appeared to stop breathing and go into cardiac arrest, but the club confirmed on Tuesday morning that Wilkinson had died in hospital.

Wilkinson suffered a suspected heart attack (Facebook)

"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 him family and friends at this time," said chairman Craig Wood on Facebook.

"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 signed a professional deal with Premier League side Hull City in 2010 after being part of the club’s youth team that won the Youth Alliance North East Conference in 2009/10. He spent time on loan at Harrogate Town and North Ferriby United to gain first-team football in the non-league system, as well as representing Loughborough University. After a spell with Goole AFC and Scarborough Athletic, Wilkinson left Hull to join Rushall Olympic, before leaving the club in the summer to join Barnsley-based Shaw Lane.

Shaw Lane were facing Evo-Stik Northern Premier League rivals Brighouse in the Integro Doodson League Cup, and Brighouse posted a message of condolence on Twitter that read: “Our thoughts are with everyone at @SLAquaFC at this very hard time.”

A number of other tributes were posted on Twitter, with other non-league clubs sending their condolences to the club and the friends and family of Wilkinson.