AN England star has told how he is struggling to come to terms with the death of the talented young goalkeeper who had been his friend since schooldays.

County Durham-born Dale Roberts, who was 24, was found dead at his home in Northamptonshire, nearly two months ago.

Mr Roberts was goalkeeper for Blue Square Premier League club Rushden and Diamonds and had been in the academies at Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

Earlier this month, more than 500 mourners attended his funeral in St Mary’s Church, Horden, County Durham, the former mining village where he grew up.

Among them was his close friend Adam Johnson, the 23-year-old midfield star of Manchester City and England.

The pair had been in the Peterlee and District league and at Middlesbrough together.

Mr Johnson told a national newspaper: “I never saw Dale’s death coming.

“His funeral was one of the worst days of my life, if not the worst. He was only 24.

“I’d been to my grandma’s funeral, but she was 86. She’d had a life.

“But for someone who was a mate like he was to live a life that was so short, I just couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what to do or say.

“If you’d met Dale, you would never, ever, have said in a million years that would happen. But I guess we’ll never know all the reasons for it. Maybe I’ll find out one day.”

Mr Johnson said that, since the tragic death of his friend, he had learnt to appreciate “everything in life more, not just football”.

He said that Mr Roberts’ mother, Isabelle, persuaded him to continue playing after he heard the news of his friend’s death.

“I spoke to his mam because I was really close to his family,” he said.

“She said he would want me to play and keep doing well. I suppose the football was a release, to get on the pitch and forget about things.

“I played Juventus away a few days after he died because other friends also told me it was probably best if I did it in memory of him.’