Dale Roberts

Dale Roberts (22 October 1986 – 14 December 2010) was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Roberts started his career in his native North-East with the academy sides at Sunderland and Middlesbrough before he moved to Nottingham Forest. He failed to make Forest's first team and had loans spells with Eastwood Town and Alfreton Town. He had two more loan spells both with Rushden & Diamonds before joining the Conference National side on a permanent deal in 2009. He won the club's player of the season in 2008–09. He also won six caps for the England C team, winning the 2009–10 player of the year, before his death by suicide at the age of 24.

Club career Roberts was born in Horden, County Durham. His mother was Isabella. He played for Cleveland Juniors Football Club and attended Easington Comprehensive School with fellow academy footballer Adam Johnson. He was with the Sunderland and Middlesbrough football academies, joining the latter in 2003 as a scholar and was part of Boro's FA Youth Cup winning squad in 2004 as back-up to David Knight. where he made 10 appearances. which he finished with 42 appearances.

He joined Conference National team Rushden & Diamonds on a one-month loan on 24 January 2008, which was extended for a second month in February. He made 19 first team appearances for the club, including the Conference League Cup Final. He was named Rushden's player of the season in 2008–09.

International career Roberts' performances for Rushden & Diamonds during the 2008–09 season earned him international recognition. He made his debut for the England C team against Malta.

Personal life Roberts was engaged to Lindsey Cowan, but the pair split in May 2010 after revelations she had been having an affair with Roberts' teammate Paul Terry. Later in the year, Roberts and Cowan resumed their relationship and were still engaged to be married at the time of Roberts' death.

Death On 14 December 2010, just hours before he was due to play in an FA Trophy match against his former club Eastwood Town, it was announced that Roberts had died. The match was subsequently postponed. Roberts was found by Northamptonshire Police at his home in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire; they said that they were not treating the circumstances as suspicious. The club's FA Youth Cup tie the following day was postponed as was the following first team game against Eastbourne Borough. At an inquest opened at the end of the week, deputy coroner Rodney Haig gave cause of death as asphyxia. Following Roberts' death, Rushden retired their number one shirt. Coroner Anne Pember recorded a suicide verdict at the closing of Roberts' inquest, which heard the goalkeeper had killed himself after struggling to come to terms with an injury and national media speculation about his fiancée's affair with Paul Terry. AFC Rushden's appeal was later successful.

Career statistics

Footnotes

A. The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football Conference and Northern Premier League. B. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference League Cup, FA Trophy and play-offs.