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Roberts retired due to mental health after father's death

Connor RobertsGetty Images

Connor Roberts was called up to the Wales squad in 2014, but did not win a senior cap

Content warning: This article contains discussion around suicide and mental health.

The New Saints' former goalkeeper Connor Roberts has revealed he retired from professional football because of mental health issues after his father took his own life.

Stuart Roberts, an ex-Stoke City goalkeeper, was found at his home on 2 June, 2023, following difficulties with his mental health. He was 56 years old.

Roberts, 32, announced in February that he would retire at the end of this season, and went on to help The New Saints win the Welsh domestic treble.

In an interview with the Football Association of Wales to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the Wales C international spoke about his own struggles with mental health while dealing with grief.

"My father was an inspiration to a lot of people. He managed to play professionally in the game and then to me there's that cliche of being a hero but he was exactly that," said Roberts.

"Unfortunately he hit depression, he hit low mood where he did struggle with lack of confidence. His anxiety was heightened. His guilt was heightened. That's all natural when you're in depression and people, I think, relate to 'what the hell is happening to me' but that's all normal.

"Football at the beginning [after he died] was that release but now it's not quite releasing the stress that I feel towards life itself.

"I wanted to make my father proud every single time I stepped on the pitch. When you lose that impact I just feel like, not 'what's the point">