Footballers and athletes dying suddenly is becoming a depressingly frequent occurrence.  Advertiser reporter Bobby Bridge has twice been involved in such tragedies and saw how the football community responded with affection and generosity - and learned how the country is behind the times with screening the health of its sportsmen and women. 

The trauma of a footballer dying north of the border while in action is a painfully familiar scenario for the people of Walsall. 

Motherwell midfielder Phil O'Donnell's sudden death at the age of 35 at the end of last year shook football to its very foundations. 

Four children left without a dad, a wife with no husband, parents without their son.  Supporters of rival clubs united in grief - and players left questioning the health risks of the profession that has brought them fame and fortune. 

This indigestible tragedy has plucked another 'good guy' from the footballing community. 

Good guys like Walsall youth team player Anton Reid and former Walsall defender Matt Gadsby. 

Both of these young men were taken away from our realm by heart failure, aged just 16 and 27 respectively. 

When Matt Gadsby died on September 9m, 2006, while playing for part-timers Hinckley United, this disturbing increase of sudden deaths was brought to my immediate attention. 

The Leicestershire outfit, who play their football in the Blue Suare North, were one of the teams I previously covered as sports editor of a local evening newspaper. 

Gadsby's death crushed men whom I knew well, forcing three weeks of match cancellations - but that was hardly of any importance. 

As with what occurred after O'Donnell's passing, the football community unreservedly poured its support upon the club, its players and of course, Gadsby's dependants. 

I became actively involved in the memorial fund which was set up to offer his wife Sarah and seven-month-old childe Emilie the crumb of comfort that money needn't be another of their short-term worries. 

Over a period of months, dozens of conversations and multiple back page leads, the overwhelming response of the football community managed to humble me - a fully paid-up member of the army against cash-rich modern day footballers. 

Officials at this tiny non-league club worked around the clock and way beyond the call of duty to organise golf days, auctions and memorial matches. 

As the pounds encouragingly rolled in, Gadsby's widow displayed immense courage to attend some of the events - along with other family members, still wrecked with grief. 

The final event saw a wealth of ex-professionals don their playing boots once more - including Matt Le Tissier, Nigel Winterburn and Gary McAllister - all with no link to Gadsby other than respect for a fellow former professional. 

Hinckley United commercial manager Dave Riche played a key role in helping raise tens of thousands of pounds. 

And he also experienced the strength the footablling community can show during these most testing of times. 

Recalling the match, which was held in April of last year, Mr Riche said: "I was told by somebody behind the bar that a man was wandering around with a rucksack trying to find the changing rooms. 

"When I got there I realised it was Nigel Winterburn (Premiership and FA Cup winner with Arsenal.). 

"I just couldn't believe it, we had hoped he was coming but we hadn't heard back from him.  It just goes to show how much people felt about this game, and supporting the appeal." 

Hinckley's local derby with Nuneaton Borough on New Year's Day saw a poignant bucket collection for the family of O'Donnell, as the club was reminded of the effects of such a tragedy. 

Mr Riche added: "The death of Phil O'Donnell really pulled on the heart strings of our supporters, who were deeply affected by what happened to Matt Gadsby. 

"It must be absolutely terrible for his family but you can see how the football community has really come together to help - from the highest levels of the Premiership right down to non-league level, people are talking about raising awareness. 

"Any money that can be spent on research into what is happening is money well spent.  There's got to be more research."

For Gadsby's memorial match, a packed main stand of more than 1,000 people, including England's most capped international Peter Shilton and other international shot stopper, Chris Kirkland, witnessed a sobering moment before kick off. 

Barely a foot and a half tall, a little girl with 'Mini Gadz' on her back tentatively prodded a pass to one of her father's former team mates. 

It will be in many years' time that little Emilie will discover the importance of this match - and how her very presence on that day gave hope and joy to so many. 

This beautiful moment brought a tear to the eye of many, including to a seemingly case hardened reporter. 

So the most recent news of O' Donnell's death brings many elements of this tragedy rumbling back for me - and many other people. 

It was a year later I learned of another death on my local patch, that of Sam Turpie, a youth team coach at Nuneaton Borough FC died, again on the pitch, at the age of 29. 

Once more the tragedy and immense loss and trauma people suffer in the wake of such a sudden loss became a bitter experience for me. 

His best friend and business partner was left in an office with a vacant desk, with phone calls still coming through. 

An eerie silence suffocated a once banter-filled office. 

Then there was the ongoing agony of simply not understanding why his best buddy was snatched away so cruelly, and without warning. 

Following these deaths, O'Donnell's passing and victims on the continent - Sevilla's 22-year-old Antonio Puerta and former Manchester City mid-fielder Marc Vivien Foe - calls have now been made to force clubs to place increased emphasis on screening the health of their players. 

The Professional Football Association, which is the union responsible for players in the top four leagues in English football, already screens all of its players - but clearly more needs to be done. 

A charity which I helped to promote was CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Although O' Donnell was in the latter days of his playing career, a worrying number of young footballers and sportsmen are dying of heart failure. 

There is a simple way to diagnose most cardiac abnormalities. 

This is by having an ECG (electrocardiogram) test, with results read by a cardiologist. 

If there has been a young (under 35) sudden death in the family, the family is entitled to be screened on the NHS. 

A spokeswoman from Cry said: "It makes a lot of sense that athletes should be screened to detect undiagnosed heart problems. 

"The Italians have been doing it for 20 years in sport and have more or less eliminated this problem in Italy. 

"Sport doesn't induce the problem, it exacerbates the problem. 

"The impact of an athlete dying on a pitch like that is absolutely phenomenal." 

For now, Motherwell's fans and players, and friends and family of O'Donnell will need the full force of the football community to help heal this massive wound. 

Football may deservedly take a battering from more noble and gentlemanly sports for the conduct of its players, but non can rival its abi9lity to rally round those in need. 

The sea of scarves, shirts and messages of condolence outside Motherwell's Fir Park was not a one-off, nor is the wave of sympathy and support for those he has left behind. 

Even at the lower levels of football, fans can forget the colour of their strips and unite for one cause. 

It will not cleanse the soul of the sport but it can reassure us al, that at its core, the spirit of the sport at least will never be in question. 

For more information on CRT, call 01737 363 222 or email: cry@c-r-y.org.uk