Non-leaguers Gresley FC have stressed the importance of lifesaving heart devices after a rival fan who collapsed minutes before kick-off was brought back to life three times.

The South Derbyshire outfit saw their away clash with Alvechurch FC postponed after the supporter suffered a cardiac arrest. His life was saved thanks to an on-site defibrillator and other fans who swiftly sprang into action.

One of the lifesavers was Martin Bassett whose son, Oliver, is on loan at Gresley from Coalville Town.

Rick Edwards, a fan of the club based near Bromsgrove, is now recovering in hospital after he had to be airlifted from its Lye Meadow Ground on Saturday, December 23.

Gresley FC vice-chairman Keith Milner said a trio of Alvechurch FC fans, Martin Bassett, Kevin March and Jude Yates, had spent 45 minutes, along with paramedics, working on Mr Edwards, a grandfather-of-four.

Mr Edwards' daughter Sam, later praised those who had jumped into action, and said they had saved her father's life.

Mr Milner said the incident had reminded the NPL Division One South league club of the importance of having defibrillators at every football ground.

He said: "It happened just before kick-off, at around 2.50pm. The man came into the board room where we were and had a chat with some of the Alvechurch members just two minutes before he collapsed. He was a regular fan, aged between 50 and 60.

"He went out of the boardroom and someone then said he had collapsed and his face was going purple. He was just outside.

"They lost him several times but everyone rallied around. People had two defibrillators out and there were instructions on how to use it.

"They worked on him for about 45 minutes but paramedics were there within five minutes. The air ambulance also landed."

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Around 150 fans, along with 20-plus Gresley supporters, had attended the match but the clash was then postponed for another date yet to be decided.

Mr Milner said: "It wasn’t appropriate to play the game. If it had been a Gresley supporter we wouldn’t want to play the match."

Gresley’s Moat ground has two defibrillators, with several people trained in how to use them.

He said: "Having defibrillators is massively important after Saturday. If you haven’t thought about it before then this should make you think. I don’t think we have had to use ours before but it is there.

"We have youth teams and children’s teams as well as our reserves. They are young, fit men but it could happen at any time as previous well-known incidents have shown."

In 2012, Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba, then a Bolton Wanderers midfielder, suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch. His heart was restarted with a defibrillator. He has since launched a campaign to get more life-saving equipment into public places.

A report on the Gresley FC website also stressed the importance of defibrillators.

It said: "The game at Alvechurch didn't kick off due to a home supporter suffering a heart attack. Thankfully, some quick responses from the Alvechurch people using their defibrillator gave the gentleman a good chance of surviving the trauma.

"The responsibility was handed over to the air ambulance crew who had landed on the pitch and they were joined by the paramedics of a land ambulance.

"But for the quick actions of the Alvechurch volunteers, the outcome could have been tragic.

"Everyone at Gresley is thinking of the victim and his family and hoping for a successful outcome."

The club later tweeted: "We are pleased that the gentleman who took ill at Alvechurch before our game is progressing well. It shows how vital a defibrillator is during an episode like that at any football or, come to that, any sporting game. Come on The FA, give smaller clubs a hand.

"We also need those people who know how to use a defibrillator and how to carry out CPR correctly which was so much in evidence at Alvechurch. Their quick response and knowledge helped prevent a tragedy - well done. You did your club proud."

Mr Edwards' daughter Sam later tweeted: "Just wanted to say that the paramedics have told us that if it hadn’t have been for you guys and your fabulous quick thinking he wouldn’t be alive now and for that, on behalf of myself and the rest of my family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts."