Premier League referee Anthony Taylor and former player Fabrice Muamba marked the opening of Premier League Defibrillator Fund applications for grassroots clubs by attending the installation of a defibrillator at Altrincham FC. The Premier League announced in June it will be providing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to more than 2,000 grassroots clubs and facilities, with the aim of helping save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

Altrincham FC is one site to benefit from the first round of applications, which was open to Football Foundation-funded facilities without a life-saving device onsite. Grassroots clubs who own their facilities will now be able to apply for an AED. Once installed, these devices will be accessible, if required, to an estimated 1.5million people across the country per season. The event was supported by a member of The FA's medical team, who conducted a CPR training session for Altrincham FC first-team players, women’s players and club and community staff.

Former Arsenal and Bolton Wanderers player Muamba, who suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on the pitch while playing for Bolton in 2012, said: "I know from personal experience the importance of having access to this type of medical equipment, which is why I am a big supporter of the Premier League's initiative to fund defibrillators for thousands of grassroots football clubs and facilities," he said.

Taylor, who was the referee when Christian Eriksen collapsed during the Denmark v Finland game at this summer’s UEFA European Championships, said: "The Premier League being able to provide life-saving equipment across grassroots football really is vital, so I fully support their Defibrillator Fund. Christian's collapse at Euro 2020 highlighted to us all that a sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. My daughters and I are season ticket-holders at Altrincham, so it's brilliant for both the club and community that a defibrillator has been installed here."

See more on the installation on the Premier League website here. It also details how clubs can apply for funding.