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.