THE funeral service for tragic goalkeeper Dale Roberts was held yesterday in a church yards from where the talented player grew up.

More than 500 mourners – including all of Mr Roberts’ Rushden and Diamonds team-mates – packed into St Mary’s Church, in Horden, east Durham, to pay their last respects.

Players from Middlesbrough, where Mr Roberts spent some time as a young footballer, attended the service alongside friends, family and fans.

England star and Manchester City midfielder Adam Johnson, a close friend of Mr Roberts, was also present.

Mr Roberts’ coffin, covered with white lilies, was carried into the church accompanied by the song Everything I Do, by Bryan Adams.

Members of his family were visibly distraught, while heartbroken fiancee Lindsey Cowan, 25, arrived clutching a photo of her and Mr Roberts.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper’s body was found at his home in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, hours before he was due to play in an FA Trophy fixture. The game was cancelled as a result.

Northamptonshire Police said Mr Roberts’ death was not being treated as suspicious.

During yesterday’s service, Father Kevin Smith talked about the player’s connection and affection for his roots in the North-East.

He read tributes from Ms Cowan, who said she would miss “standing on her tip-toes to kiss him” and she was “honoured to call him her fiancee”.

And he read a tribute from Mr Roberts’ mother, Isabelle, which said: “You were born in Blackpool and, like those illuminations, you lit up our lives.”

Rushden and Diamonds club chaplain Canon Roger Knight spoke of the shock and sadness Mr Roberts’ death caused at the club.

Mr Roberts, an England C international, joined Rushden and Diamonds from East Midlands Championship side Nottingham Forest in January last year.

He was a product of the Sunderland and Middlesbrough academy systems and played at under- 17 level for the Teessiders.

After moving to Notts Forest, he had loan spells at Northamptonshire non-league sides Eastwood Town and Alfreton Town.

He joined Rushden on loan in 2008 and the deal was made permanent last year.

He was named player of the season for Rushden in 2008-9 and made the first of his six appearances for the England C team against Malta that season.