Southall FC Players to Receive Cardiac Screening
Part of new health initiative for non-professional footballers
Important tests are often not available to players at non-league clubs
October 15, 2026
Southall FC players and staff will take part in a cardiac screening session on Thursday 22 October, as part of a locally organised effort to improve access to heart health checks for people outside professional football pathways. The screening, funded and sponsored to make it free for participants, will take place from 3pm at Rectory Park, the Middlesex FA’s headquarters in Northolt.
The initiative is being led by Puri Pharmacy, working with Cardiologic and Lenira Health, and aims to address practical barriers that often prevent non-league players from accessing cardiac screening. According to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), at least 12 young people aged 35 and under die each week in the UK from previously undiagnosed heart conditions, with 80% of young sudden cardiac deaths occurring without prior symptoms. These figures relate to young people generally, not footballers specifically, but highlight the importance of early detection.
While professional academies have established screening arrangements, access is less clear for clubs outside those systems. The FA’s medical guidance directs players towards charitable screening programmes and self-funded services, including providers able to visit clubs. For many teams, questions remain about where screening can be accessed, who organises it and how costs are covered.
Rahul Puri, pharmacist independent prescriber at Puri Pharmacy in Southall and Hillingdon, is coordinating the event. The screening will include resting 12-lead ECGs, consultant reporting and guidance on further assessment where needed. Lenira Health will carry out finger-prick blood tests using PocDoc technology. Puri emphasises that screening can identify some previously unrecognised heart conditions but cannot detect every condition or guarantee fitness to play.
The organisers are also exploring how club sponsors and local businesses could help fund future screenings, reducing reliance on club budgets or individual players paying out of pocket.
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