Reading RA member Michael McDonagh has been recognised by The FA as Match Official of the Year after his actions helped save the life of a goalkeeper during a grassroots fixture.
For Reading RA member Michael McDonagh, the morning began like countless other refereeing appointments. Within minutes, however, he found himself responding to a life-threatening emergency in which every second mattered.
Michael’s calmness, training and willingness to act helped give goalkeeper Marvin the best possible chance of survival. His actions have now been recognised by The FA, which named him Match Official of the Year at the Referee Recognition Awards.
Michael shares his account of that extraordinary morning...
“Something didn’t feel right”
“I arrived at the ground at approximately 9:45am on a clear but chilly Sunday morning. After greeting the groundsman, I went into the changing room and prepared as normal.
“Everything about the morning felt routine - the kind of Sunday you expect when refereeing grassroots football.
“The match began in a relaxed manner, with very little need for intervention during the early stages. Around the 12th minute, I awarded a corner kick. As the players were taking up their positions, I heard the goalkeeper shout, ‘Keeper!’
“It immediately caught my attention because there were no opposing players near him. Seconds later, somebody shouted, ‘Ref, the keeper!’
“At first, I wondered whether it might be an attempt to delay the restart - something referees occasionally encounter. However, as I began sprinting towards him, something didn’t feel right.
“When I reached the goalkeeper, who I later learned was called Marvin, he was lying face down and completely still. I hoped he might move or respond, but there was nothing.
“I shook him firmly and received no reaction. I then rolled him onto his back, which took some effort because of his size. There were still no signs of movement, consciousness or response.”
Training takes over
“At that point, the seriousness of the situation became clear.
“My previous training as a St John Ambulance volunteer, which I had been encouraged to undertake by my mother, who was a casualty nurse, immediately came back to me. That knowledge had also been reinforced by the enhanced emergency training I receive through my work with Network Rail.
“I instinctively carried out a dynamic risk assessment. Was it safe to approach? Were there any environmental dangers to me or anybody else? Was it appropriate to administer mouth-to-mouth without a mask?
“There were no apparent dangers and Marvin had already been unresponsive for several minutes. He urgently needed help, so I began CPR and rescue breaths immediately.
“I repeatedly shouted for a defibrillator and made sure somebody was calling 999. Once I had confirmation that the emergency services had been contacted, I was able to concentrate fully on Marvin. We also called out to see whether there were any medical professionals nearby.”
Working together to save a life
“After a few minutes, a substitute player from a nearby pitch ran over to help. It was Richard Witt from Reading FC.
“His arrival was a huge relief. Having another trained person alongside you in that kind of situation makes an enormous difference.
“Richard and I continued CPR for approximately 20 minutes. During that time, it became clear that the defibrillator was not immediately accessible because the code for its cabinet was not available. Players worked urgently to gain access, but every second felt incredibly long.
“When the defibrillator was eventually brought over, I opened the casing and realised that the pads needed to be connected manually. Despite the pressure, we managed to connect them successfully.
“I was handed a pair of scissors and cut through Marvin’s shirt so that I could access his chest and position the pads correctly. Following the instructions from the device, I asked everybody to stand clear while it delivered the first shock.
“We repeated the process approximately four or five times.”
“We have a rhythm”
“Shortly afterwards, we heard the approaching sirens. That sound brought a huge sense of relief to everybody.
“A solo paramedic arrived first. Richard and I attempted to step back, but he instructed us to continue CPR while he carried out advanced medical interventions, administered adrenaline and prepared further equipment.
“More paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and worked swiftly and calmly. They secured Marvin’s airway and used a LUCAS mechanical CPR device to provide consistent chest compressions while they focused on other critical treatment.
“Once Marvin had been stabilised as far as possible, we helped place him on a stretcher and transported him approximately 500 metres across the ground to the ambulance. It felt like the longest walk of my life.
“As we reached the ambulance, the paramedics and doctors suddenly announced: ‘We have a rhythm.’
“It was the moment we had all been hoping for.
“I thought my role had finished, but a doctor then asked me to help hold Marvin’s airway open while she inserted a tube and prepared him for transport. Although I was surprised to be asked, I followed her instructions and supported the procedure.”
A remarkable recovery
In the weeks that followed, Michael received regular updates from Marvin’s manager. He was delighted to learn that Marvin had survived without any lasting neurological damage and was able to return home in time for Christmas.
Marvin was subsequently fitted with an implantable defibrillator. Other than a broken rib, he suffered no lasting physical harm.
“A few weeks later, Richard and I met Marvin at a local pub,” Michael recalls.
“He bought us both a pint while, very sensibly, sticking to a Diet Coke himself. It brought some much-needed humour to the occasion!
“Seeing him standing there, alive and well, was incredibly emotional. It brought the whole experience full circle.”
Image from left to right: Richard, Marvin and Michael
Creating a lasting legacy
Michael was determined that something positive should come from the incident beyond Marvin’s recovery.
He contacted Berks & Bucks FA and Oxfordshire FA to highlight the importance of making Sudden Cardiac Arrest training freely available online and accessible to everyone involved in grassroots football.
“I am incredibly grateful that this was followed up and that training is now available,” Michael said.
“I also remain deeply indebted to Richard, the ambulance crews and the critical-care doctors for their professionalism, expertise and calmness under immense pressure.”
Michael’s recognition as Match Official of the Year celebrates far more than a single refereeing performance. It acknowledges his courage, composure and decisive intervention at the moment they were needed most.
Everyone at The Referees’ Association congratulates Michael on this thoroughly deserved recognition.
Click here if you or a fellow Referee are interested in completing the free FA Sudden Cardiac Arrest training
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