Dale Roberts 1986-2010

In most cases, suicide is a solitary event and yet it has often far-reaching repercussions for many others. It is rather like throwing a stone into a pond; the ripples spread and spread.                         ALISON WERTHEIMER, A Special Scar

Many consider suicide a crime. A philosophical problem. When your principles seem to be demanding suicide, clearly it’s time to check your premises.

Imagine being a goalkeeper; standing between the goalposts prior to a penalty kick. You are just one 12 yard shot away from saving your team from conceding a goal. In football, one goal could make or break your season. Some say it is a matter of life or death.

As a young boy growing up, football meant everything to me. I would train for two hours on a Saturday morning, go to watch Rushden & Diamonds home or away in the afternoon, then play for my local side on a Sunday morning. Without fail, week in, week out, this would be the routine. Thousands of children up and down the country will be following a similar pattern. These people do it for the love of the game, money not being an issue.

Let’s take Dale Roberts. His childhood would have been comparable. Growing up in a small town in County Durham, he played for his local side before moving onto Sunderland and Middlesbrough. Dale just wanted to play football.

He didn’t care about the multi-million stars in the Premier League. He didn’t care about the celebrity lifestyle. He was the most down to Earth young man that you would ever hope to meet.

How many footballers would you see drinking and chatting with the fans after every game, win or lose? Very few. Dale was in that minority. The rapport between Dale and the Rushden & Diamonds faithful was simply incredible. He had only originally joined the club on a short loan spell, playing 13 games in the process. He was instantly a fans favourite.

Dale arrived at Nene Park during a tough period. It was a downward spiral with nothing worth remembering on or off the pitch. He lifted the supporters, the players and the back-room staff. Things were looking up again.

If you saw him in the street, he would stop what he was doing and chat to you. If you asked him for his autograph, he would stop what he was doing and sign for you. I have never known anyone have such an influence in lifting the spirit of a football club like Dale did at Rushden.

In May 2010, it was revealed that the fiancé of Dale Roberts had been having an affair with Paul Terry, brother of John. This could have left the supporters divided as both had been influential figures during the club’s season. It didn’t though. The persona of Dale was all that mattered and a ‘Team Roberts’ group was immediately set-up in support.

Single-handedly, Dale had saved efforts on goal, time and time again during his short career. Just over six months after the affair was revealed, Dale took his own life.

If there was one thing I could save – it would be Dale.

At just 24 years of age, Dale had committed that crime. He became that philosophical problem.

Dale was ‘messed up’. He admitted it himself, but there was nothing anyone could do.

Football doesn’t mean everything to me anymore. It is much more important than that. We must remember the people that make football what it is.

People believe that the death of Dale was the reason for the demise of Rushden & Diamonds. I can only agree with this. Dale was the life and soul of the club. Rushden & Diamonds was Dale Roberts. Dale Roberts was Rushden & Diamonds.

They belong together. Dale was our diamond.

Manchester City’s Adam Johnson had known Dale from the age of 11. They did everything together and had been to Los Angeles just months before his death.

"It makes you appreciate everything in life more, not just football. I've talked since with other friends about how life just goes like that,” Johnson said.

Dale may have passed, but his legacy lives on.  The Dale Roberts Memorial Fund has been formed – with Johnson as Ambassador.

It is hard to even begin to imagine what Dale was going through, and something that people shouldn’t have to consider. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I will not be alone in hoping that other youngsters and professionals take note of the life of Dale Roberts, albeit only a short one.

Almost one year on, I still remember the day I heard the news of Dale’s passing like it was yesterday. I still remember the rivalry between Rushden and Kettering Town being forgotten momentarily.

We must remember that there are more important things in life than football.

There’s only one Dale Roberts. Never forgotten.

Devon Petersen

Some say it is just a hobby. After all, you’re only throwing a 4-inch missile at an 18-inch circle of stuffed boar bristles. For others, it is much more important than that.

The whole of South Africa was on its feet with vuvuzelas, as Siphiwe Tshabalala scored against Mexico in the opening game of last year’s World Cup Finals. If Oscar Pistorius achieves a gold medal at next year’s Olympic Games, the entire nation will be on its feet again.

Imagine having a whole country’s expectations on your shoulders. Imagine the pressure of being able to toss tungsten better than anyone else in the world. Imagine the atmosphere as thousands of people are drunkenly dancing to Chase the Sun by Planet Funk.

In many sports, if you haven’t been scouted by your late teens, then you might as well give up. At 18 years of age, Devon Petersen was just starting.  Due to the late nights and excessive amounts of alcohol that is stereotypical in darts, a request from Petersen’s parents was that he didn’t play until he had finished his schooling.

Six years on, Petersen is undoubtedly the best darts player from South Africa.

“My father told me that I was quite good and after that there was no stopping me,” the 24 year old said. “He told me to never fear losing.”

It has been a year to remember for the former banking consultant from Mitchell's Plain. After leaving behind his family in South Africa, Petersen now resides in Brighouse in order to follow his dream of becoming one of the best darts players in the world.

“I will be World Champion,” says Petersen who has gone from strength to strength. “The only person that stops you from reaching your goals is yourself. You only have one life to live - so live it.”

Petersen, who became the first professional darts player from Africa, reveals that despite the ambition, never thought he would be able to achieve it.

“Just playing in the PDC [Professional Darts Corporation] was a dream for me,” he said. “I have shown that what you dream can become a reality.”

The South African suffered mixed fortunes during his debut at the Alexandra Palace for the 2011 PDC World Darts Championships last December. After a preliminary round victory against Norman Madhoo from Guyana, Petersen succumbed to a three sets to one defeat at the hands of Jamie Caven in the first round.

It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride for young Petersen. In September, he retained the South African Open to qualify for the 2012 PDC World Darts Championships.

“It’s a great feeling to be back there at the Alexandra Palace and to play on the biggest stage of darts,” he said.

Currently ranked 116 in the world, Petersen has aspirations of improving on his performance from last year at the ‘Ally Pally’.

“I’d like to better that achievement. It could have been so much different if I hit my doubles. This year I’d like to play after Christmas, which would be in the second or third round. Anything after the third round would be a bonus for me.”

Petersen also believes that the experience he has gained in the past year is vital for his future in the sport. “I’ve learnt that confidence is a big factor in the game. It’s about strategy; it’s about pacing yourself, knowing what to do against what players and how to approach the game,” he said. “I’ve got a good recipe for next year.”

In a sport that has been dominated by Phil Taylor for the last 20 years, Petersen finds it hard to admire anyone other than ‘The Power’ for his achievements. He admits that on the pro-circuit, you appreciate people for reasons other than just their achievements.

“You look up to players based on personality, their approach to the game and on the way they conduct themselves,” he said. “Players like Justin Pipe, Simon Whitlock, Wes Newton and Barrie Bates.”

“There are obviously clicks, like the Dutch guys tend to stick together. There’s no bad vibes though. It’s a close-knit community more than anything else.”

It is very much a case of ‘Contender, ready!’ as referee John Anderson used to say on the TV game show Gladiators. Earlier this year, Petersen, nicknamed ‘The Spartan’, became part of a new sponsorship quadruplet with Unicorn. ‘The Contenders’ as they are known, are all professionals establishing their careers in darts that are likely to surprise many with their skill, dedication and 'can do' enthusiasm.

“My manager approached them [Unicorn] and they said they would like to sign me,” Petersen said. “Getting the support of Unicorn, the brand of champions, just makes the gamble worthwhile.”

The South African role-model understands that because of social media, the pressure and expectations on him have increased. “Due to Facebook and all other communications, people begin to follow you intensely and you know they are looking for results,” he said. “At the end of the day, all I can do is to try my best.”

Despite being a country commonly recognised for Cricket and Rugby Union, Petersen believes that darts in South Africa is on the rise. “It’s a sleeping giant kind of thing, he said following the recent launch of the South African Professional Darts Organisation.

“There’s definitely a few playing striving hard to perfect their game and hopefully come over here. There will be a few South African’s coming over for Q-School next year.”

Petersen became one of the inaugural winners of a PDC Pro-Tour Card in January 2011 at Q-School – the event that enabled him to class himself as a professional.

Petersen’s move to West Yorkshire was in order to practise with youngster, Joe Cullen. Tipped as ‘the next big thing’, Petersen agrees that Cullen could be a future star. “He definitely has the potential to become a big player. He just needs to utilise what he has,” he said. “It’s whether he has the potential to use his own potential.”

Since Barry Hearn’s acquisition of a majority shareholding in the Professional Darts Corporation in 2001, the gap between the PDC and the BDO (British Darts Organisation) has become increasingly apparent. With a number of tournaments taking place almost every weekend throughout the year, Petersen believes that Hearn has had a major influence in the PDC circuit.

“He has definitely taken darts to what it is today. He’s been a big help.  There’s very little that you can change - Everything is perfect as it is,” Petersen said.

The BDO turned down an offer of £2milion from Hearn in 2010 in an attempt to ‘invest in the future of darts’. Petersen reveals: “It’s [BDO] definitely a lower league to the PDC. You can’t compare it really. It’s like comparing chalk to cheese.”

In 2009, the BDO made a turnover of £16,000, whereas the PDC made a profit of over £1m.

Since the introduction of the Grand Slam of Darts in 2007, British television broadcasts no fewer than six events throughout a year. “It’s almost a perfectly oiled engine,” Petersen said.

Petersen believes he has what it takes to become a Top 10 player within the next couple of years. If the rate of progress continues at a similar rate to the last six years, there is no reason why his next ambitions shouldn’t also become a reality.