Critical 48 hours for Staines Town chairman

Jun 9 2009 By Mark Goode

The chairman of Staines Town FC, Alan Boon, has 'taken a turn for the worse' after being admitted to hospital following a heart attack.

The boss of the recently promoted team was admitted to St Peter's Hospital, in Chertsey, on Monday but on Tuesday night his heart rate increased.

Angie Payne, commercial manager of the club said today: "At the moment he is still very poorly, and he had a bad night. The doctor's are trying to stabilise his heart rate, and the next 48 hours are critical but we are very hopefully that it is only temporary.

"We are hoping his heart rate goes down and he can follow on with his treatment. He is very strong and I'm sure he will pull through."

It is the first time Mr Boon has suffered from a heart attack, and it all started when he returned from holiday in Spain on Sunday suffering from chest pains.

At first he thought it was severe indigestion so slept on it, but on Monday he was driven to A&E and walked into the emergency room.

His family have been visiting, including his children Corinne, Michelle, and Matthew.

Mrs Payne said: "They are very concerned but are trying to keep up for his sake. They have been amazed with all the messages in from the football and business world with good wishes and support, which is lifting their spirits."

Mr Boon, who has been in charge at Wheatsheaf Park for 30 years, also runs a company called Boon Building Services, which sets up electrical systems for the likes of the O2 arena and Chelsea FC.

Messages have been posted on the team's website, been sent into the office, and the switchboard at St Peter's Hospital has been so inundated with calls, they have had to ask well wishers to call Mrs Payne or family members.

Mrs Payne said: "The hospital have asked us to try and get the calls to divert, because sometimes nearly every call they have received is an enquiry into Alan Boon. I think they were taken back by how popular and well known he is."

Mr Boon is said to be cheered by the messages of support.

But the news couldn't have come at a worse time, as only last month, the team got promoted to Blue Square Conference South, the highest they have ever achieved.

Mrs Payne said: "He has got everything to fight for because it is the most important moment in the club's history and he wants to savour every moment."