A STALWART fan of Yeovil Town Football Club was taken ill with a suspected heart attack moments before the Boxing Day match at Huish Park.

Gurnard Smith's life hung in the balance, according to Dave Linney, Yeovil Town's commercial manager. The club's medical staff who rushed to his aid that day have been credited with helping to save his life.

Mr Smith, aged 78, a lifelong Glovers fan and the son of former club chairman H A Smith, remained in Yeovil District Hospital this week.

Although still in the intensive care unit, he was no longer in a critical condition, the hospital said on Tuesday and was expected to be moved to a hospital ward yesterday.

The kick-off in the game against Wycombe Wanderers was delayed by several minutes while medical staff and doctors based at the grounds attended to Mr Smith.

A nurse is thought to have given him cardio pulmonary resuscitation, before an NHS ambulance rushed him to hospital.

As a vice president of the club, Mr Smith was seated in an exclusive area of the ground directly above the players' tunnel when he was taken ill.

Mr Linney said: "Medical staff on hand did a terrific job. We would like to send every best wish from the club to Mr Smith, his wife Mary and family. We hope he makes a full and speedy recovery."

Club manager Terry Skiverton also paid tribute to the efforts of medical staff at the ground.

Mr Smith's wife Mary said: "The hospital has told me if he hadn't got the quick attention that he did, things could have been much more serious."

Mr Smith's father, H A Smith, was chairman of Yeovil Town during the 1948-49 season, when the club made the FA Cup fifth round.

view from the dugout: page 94