Roberts retired due to mental health after father's death

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?' but that I'm not doing it for the reasons that I want to.

"I want that chapter to finish and begin my own chapter in terms of coaching."

Roberts was born in Wrexham and started his career at Everton, graduating from the academy alongside the likes of Ross Barkley.

Following spells at clubs such as Fulham, Cheltenham Town and Bangor City, he joined The New Saints in 2018 and won several trophies there.

This season, TNS became the first team from the Cymru Premier to qualify for the group stage of a major European competition.

Roberts played against the likes of Fiorentina and Panathinaikos in the Uefa Conference League and finished the league phase with more saves than any other goalkeeper.

"I am a huge believer that he [Roberts' father] would've been watching the European games, but they were extremely tough I must say," Roberts said.

"Craig [Harrison, TNS manager] will vouch for this, I probably broke down after every single European game unfortunately, just because you wish he could be there live in the flesh to witness it and go through that experience with me.

"I want him to stay with me, of course, but I've told my counsellor and professional people around me that once I do finish and retire I will feel like something releases.

"So I'm hoping that does happen and that I do find peace within myself and that can help me get over this journey.

"Unfortunately I lost my father but I'm so grateful that I've also experienced mental health, if that makes sense, because I can relate that back to the kids that I end up coaching."

Roberts made the decision to retire before the end of the campaign, playing his final game earlier this month as TNS won the Welsh Cup to complete a domestic treble.

He added: "I've probably had two or three tough, tough episodes, scary episodes in fact, and you're just not yourself, you're not thinking clearly. You do feel like something's took over your body but it's important to just drive and be around people that will support you.

"You would never guess that I was going through what I've been going through, but that means anybody can be having a bit of a rough time.

"I'm not over that yet, I'm nowhere near over that yet. This is a journey, this is a rollercoaster and it simply hasn't finished.

"Whoever listens to this interview, you don't need to worry about me because I've got a brilliant support network, but I'm just saying I'm nowhere near out of the journey and I understand there's ups and downs throughout this."

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by mental health issues or self-harm, these organisations may be able to help.