Young footballer who trialled for Manchester United kills himself after broken arm and back injury ruined his sporting career
A promising footballer who had once been a trialist for English Premier League club Manchester United ended his life over a series of long-term injuries that left him suffering from anxiety.
Joel Darlington, 20, was considered to have a bright future in the beautiful game when he first broke on to the scene. He was on an upward trajectory having broken through into Welsh Premier League side Bala Town and represented Wales at the youth level.
But on March 18 this year, his mother Dawn Davies returned home to Gellifor, near Ruthin, from a trip to Wrexham and found the garage door locked. When she broke in with her help of her other son, Kyran, she found Joel had hanged himself.
Now, an inquest into his death has heard how he had left several notes indicating that he intended on taking his own life. The hearing, which was held in Ruthin, was not attended by either of his parents.
John Gittins, the senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, read out a statement from Joel's mother which detailed his exceptional sporting background and how his career had stalled after he had been plagued by long-term injuries.
A former pupil of Rhos Street Primary School and Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, Joel had been prolific when he turned out for local junior sides from a young age.
Wynne Davies, the chairman of Ruthin Youth Team, had said after the 20-year-old's suicide that he had almost single-handedly won the league for their side when playing for the club's under-12s.
His talents eventually caught the eye of Manchester United, one of the biggest football clubs in the world, though that dream ended when he broke his arm.
He also had trials with Shrewsbury Town F.C., a club that plays in the third division of English football, before eventually joining Bala Town's academy and becoming their top scorer for the 2016/17 season.
Joel had looked set to have a decent career in football before his injury nightmare began.
In June 2017, his back pain was diagnosed as possible scar tissue from a slipped disc. When physiotherapy failed to have the desired effect in the long-term, he turned to other solutions, including acupuncture, but to little avail.
In her statement, his mother said he did not return to Yale College, where he was enrolled in courses which he hoped would set him on the path to becoming a fitness instructor, in October 2018 because he was suffering from anxiety.
She said he subsequently withdrew from his social life, but that he still appeared to be hopeful. Just a day before his death, he had reportedly spoken to his father positively about his future.
After the hearing, Gittins recorded a conclusion of suicide.