A 12 year-old boy died when a metal pole supporting an FA 'Respect' banner was uprooted by a tackle involving his brother and hit him in the head, an inquest heard.

Tragic Oliver Croker was watching an amateur game when his older brother Liam Hole, 26,  slid in with an opponent and hit a rope designed to hold back spectators.

The inquest heard that the pitch was lined in places by a barrier of yellow rope supported by metal poles.

They were originally introduced nationwide as part of an FA Respect campaign in 2008. 

One of the metal anchors flew up  to 30 metres and struck Oliver, who was from Bampton, in the head.

The youngster was airlifted to hospital and put on life-support but his brain injury was too severe to survive.

An inquest heard that Oliver, who had a twin brother, suffered the freak injury as Bradninch FC played visitors Bampton in Devon on Saturday, September 12, 2015.

In a statement to the inquest Liam, who came on a second half centre forward for Bampton, said he was one of the players involved in the fatal collision.

He said: "My two brothers were sat on the grass behind the rope on the right hand side of the pitch.

"The ball was that side of the pitch close to Olly. I challenged the ball and collided shoulders with a player on the Bradninch side.

"He then fell into the rope. The game continued, but after a few seconds I heard someone shout 'we need a first aider'.

"I then saw my brother Olly lying on the floor. At that time he was conscious.

"I tried to keep him occupied while talking to him. But by the time the air ambulance arrived he was no longer talking."

Liam said he had gone with Oliver and another brother to the game.

He added: "The match kicked off at 2pm and I came on with about 30 minutes left to play. This was about 3.30pm and the score was 3-0 to Bampton.

"About 15 people were watching the match and the game was nearly finished when the incident occurred.

"On the pitch centre line and at each side of the pitch were numerous yellow ropes with posts attached.

"These are used in youth football games to keep parents and spectators from interfering."

Oliver was airlifted to hospital before being transferred to a specialist head injury unit at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children but died at 12.30am on Monday, September 14.

A post mortem found his cause of death was a traumatic and penetrating brain injury.

He had no previous health conditions and was his GP described him as a "fit and well 12-year-old boy with no significant medical history.

Liam told the inquest in Exeter he went with his brother in the air ambulance and stayed with him in hospital with Oliver's parents Pippa and Sean.

The barrier had been erected for a youth game in the morning but remained in place for the later match involving adult footballers.

Gary Osborne, a postman and under 10s coach at Bradninch, was among the spectators at the game.

He said: "I was standing on the side of the pitch with some friends and saw two players slide and become entangled with the respect barrier.

"The two players recovered and came back onto the pitch. A period of time past and I heard shouts to call for an ambulance.

"I assumed it was for a player.

"But then I saw the u-shaped anchor on top of Olly's head.

"I put him in the recovery position and kept him as still as possible. He was becoming less responsive but we stayed until the ambulance arrived."

The inquest heard there was nothing unusual about the way the barriers had been set up on the day.

Health and safety experts said the FA offer general advice on how they should be used but responsibility on how they are used is left to individual clubs.

Jeremy Pritchard, an environmental health officer for Mid Devon District Council who investigated, said the rope and bar were pulled from its fixed position as two players challenged for the ball.

He said he had never encountered a similar incident, but it had prompted concern about the use of the respect banners by the FA.

He said: "It flew through the air and penetrated his head.

"The barriers are encouraged by the FA as part of the campaign launched for the 2008/09 season.

"I have spoken to the FA and they said in the seven years the campaign has been running no similar incident has been reported to them."

Mr Prichard said he understood that concerns and evaluations had been raised by the FA on the safety of the barriers.

Chris Rudall, of the health and safety laboratory, said the metal peg uprooted from the respect barrier had travelled between 25 and 30 metres before striking Oliver.

Mr Rudall said the system used by the club was unbranded but was almost identical to what was referred to as the Samba branded kit.

He said: "The FA gives general advice on how they should be used but the detail of how the barrier is deployed is left to the individual club.

"One or both of the players involved ran into the barrier applying force to the rope which stretched it and pulled it from the ground and projected it behind the barrier towards Oliver.

"Our calculations are that the anchor was pulled from the ground and travelled at least 25-30 metres.

"The impact and force penetrated the skull of the adolescent."

Mr Rudall said there were no FA guidelines in place with regards the respect barriers.

But in light of the tragedy work was now being carried out with manufacturers to improve safety.

He said talks had taken place with manufacturers on how best the risks can be reduced.

He added: "This is an on-going discussion. Eliminating risk is not an achievable goal. But we are looking at how it can be reduced.

"It is fair to say that it is a big surprise that this incident occurred."

Mr Rudall said things could be looked at to reduce stiffness which would reduce the likelihood of pulling out the anchor.

This could also include rope or tape that breaks before the anchor comes out.

Mr Rudall said the barrier used by Bradninch was made of synthetic fibre folded double and clipped in place.

Poles were secured to the ground with a 6mm u-shaped anchor at each end.

He said the incident was caused by players running into the barrier applying force that stretched the rope and produced sufficient force to pull it out the ground.

Senior secretary for Bradninch FC Neville England said: "The barriers were left in place after the youth game in the morning.

"It is normal to leave them up as a guide to spectators on where to stand.

"They consist of bright yellow marker posts strung together by yellow rope.

"The player's momentum carried them off the pitch and the rope was pulled from its fixings.

"At the time none of us realised the true nature of what happened.

"No-one saw the actual unfolding of the incident as all eyes were on the match."

Coroner Elizabeth Earland described it as a "freak accident" but said she would be writing to the Football Association to make sure it is one that is not repeated.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, she said: "Oliver sustained a fatal, penetrating head injury from an 8mm in diameter metal peg securing a guide rope holding a respect barrier in a freak accident at Bampton football club ground.

"The anchor at the club house end was uprooted and propelled 25-30 metres when two players landed on it at a football match that Oliver was watching.

"The injuries he sustained were unsurviable."

She added: "I will be writing to the FA and ask them to continue their discussions in reaching a conclusion that might be shared with the populous in general.

"While this was an extremely unusual event, it is one we don't want to see a repetition of.

"On behalf of myself and my officers I want to offer my deepest sympathies to the family and all who were there.

"You can not sit in court and not be deeply affected by what was heard."

After the inquest Oliver's parents Pippa and Sean said they did not wish to comment.