Falkirk FC fined ?4,000 over death of trainee player

20/11/05

Falkirk Football Club has been fined ?4,000 following the death of an apprentice player, who was electrocuted when training equipment he was carrying touched an overhead power cable.
Craig Gowans, 17, died on 8 July at the Scottish Premier League club's training ground in Grangemouth, while setting up equipment for senior players arriving for pre-season training. The club was fined for failing to ensure the safety of the young central defender, who was only two weeks into a two-year contract with Falkirk. John Hughes, the club's manager, and George Craig, the managing director, appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court, having admitted the charge.
A club statement said: 'Falkirk Football Club fully accepts the ruling of the court.' Craig said the accident had led to a major shake-up in the way Falkirk FC handled the health and safety of its employees. 'We have employed the services of a health and safety consultant and we have risk assessments carried out at all the locations where Falkirk FC employees are working,' he said.


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