A TRAGEDY which put football into perspective - the decision to call-off Wanderers’ game against Cheltenham Town was unquestionably the right call.

The news we had all feared was confirmed by the club on Sunday afternoon, that 71-year-old lifelong supporter Iain Purslow had passed away.

He had been watching his beloved club in action with his son, Stuart, the previous day before falling ill midway through the first half and going into cardiac arrest.

The urgency and seriousness of the situation became immediately apparent to everyone in the stadium.

Dozens of supporters in the East Stand yelled out and gestured for the game to be halted, with Wanderers’ midfielder Josh Sheehan racing over to alert the match referee Sunny Singh Gill.

In front of the stand, Lee Parker, a retired paramedic who works as a match photographer for the Camerasport agency, was one of the first to react, running up from his post at pitch-side. He would continue fervent CPR for 20 minutes before passing on to another medical team.

At the same time an off-duty experienced firefighter, based at Bolton North station, also jumped in help with the resuscitation efforts, also ensuring there was space to safely use the defibrillator.

An off-duty surgeon and doctor were also present as those who were seated in the East Stand spread out to allow stewards and medics the space and time to be able to carry out their duties.

The referee took just two minutes to lead the players off the pitch. It was the second time that such an incident had happened in a League One game this season – and on the previous occasion, a fixture between Leyton Orient and Lincoln City that had already gone on for 82 minutes, attempts to restart the game drew fierce criticism from those in the crowd.

On this occasion, Mr Singh Gill’s swift action prevented any such ambiguity. Both sets of players and staff were shepherded to the dressing room to await further instruction, leaving around 17,500 others doing little more but watching on in hope.

Since the stadium was built in 1997 there had been examples of short delays in play so that supporters could receive medical attention, but nothing to this extent or gravity. This modern ground boasts excellent access for the emergency services, plus links to the motorway, but those involved had to improvise in a tight space at the top of the concourse, in wet conditions, and moving him elsewhere to allow the match to continue simply was not an option.

For nearly half an hour the desperate work continued in situ, Mr Purslow was twice brought back. Eventually he was moved, with makeshift sight screens pushed alongside him on the route towards the medical room and ambulance.

Medical staff on the scene say Mr Purslow had information about his medical conditions, medication and contact numbers on his phone – an often-overlooked detail which helps responders greatly in the event of an emergency. He was, of course, also accompanied to the game by his son, Stuart.

As the treatment continued, there were occasional rumbles of discontent from fans gathered in the south-east corner, most notably towards photographers who were trying to juggle the difficult task between recording events in what was rapidly becoming a national story and doing so in the most respectful way possible.

Even Mr Parker, who had stepped away from the scene to allow emergency responders to pick up, got caught in the crossfire at one stage, raw emotion thoroughly understandable in the circumstances.

The match itself now fades as a postscript. Cheltenham will feel they had the better of proceedings to that point and certainly created the one clear-cut chance of the game when George Lloyd poked a low cross from Rob Street at goal, forcing Nathan Baxter to make a block with his feet.

Lewis Freestone also sent two early headers over the bar as Darrell Clarke’s improving side made a bright and energetic start.

Wanderers showed fleeting signs that they were warming up in the moments before the referee halted the game – Kyle Dempsey the catalyst with a couple of driving runs from deep and one shot that cleared the bar by a distance. Will Forrester also had an effort deflected over the top.

The club had made great play of consulting the fanbase on their choice of pre-match music, a website poll of more than 4,000 people picking out Dion’s The Wanderer to be played as the team walked out on to the pitch.

The classic tunes from yesteryear were all rolled out, one by one, and even though Bolton’s early exchanges were rather ponderous, the supporters certainly did their bit, most notably in the corner of the East Stand where the chanting was almost ever-present.

All that enthusiasm would soon be replaced by hushed concern. Supporters young and old could do little but watch, pray, and wait for something from the match announcer on what might happen next.

When a definitive answer arrived, 33 minutes after the game was first halted, respectful applause. Not only from the home fans but also the 200-or-so who had made a long trip from Gloucestershire, facing the prospect of a return run.

Fans filed patiently out into the concourses, many sending messages back home to friends and family, all the while medical staff continued their efforts in the medical room inside the stadium and then under the flashing lights on the way to hospital.

Football had been incidental on the day, so neither manager was called up to speak about what had happened on the pitch. What could they say, after all?

A game could be replayed but the opportunity to try and save a man’s life was a one-time deal.

This was not a football match “binned over an ill fan” as billed by one national tabloid, nor was it “crowd trouble” as it was errantly reported in other quarters – it was a heroic effort, over a sustained period of time, to try and keep someone alive, and was witnessed by thousands.

Many of those same folk will now join in unison to mourn Mr Purslow, as the club pays its respects on Tuesday night before the FA Cup tie against Luton Town.

Wanderers team (3-5-2): Baxter; Forrester, Santos, Toal; Dacres-Cogley, Sheehan, Thomason, Dempsey, Iredale; Charles, Adeboyejo.

Subs: Coleman, Bodvarsson, Morley, Maghoma, Ashworth, Jerome, Matheson.

Cheltenham (3-5-2): Southwood; Freestone, Davies, Bradbury; Long, Pett, Bonds, Sercombe, Ferry; Street, Lloyd.

Subs: Pardington, B Williams, Goodwin, Keena, Smith, Horton, Butler-Oyadeji.