Former Crewe Alexandra defender Mark Roberts has written a poignant tribute to his former teammate Mike Thalassitis following the Love Island star's tragic death.

The two had played together at Stevenage FC less than a decade ago, before striker Mike became known to audiences for his 2017 stint on the ITV2 reality show.

In a heartfelt and honest post on Twitter, Northwich-born Mark, who currently plays for Warrington Town, paid tribute to 26-year-old Mike, just days after he was tragically found hanged in a London park.

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Describing his friend as a 'thoughtful and respectful young man', he said he was 'shocked and so sad' when he heard the news, and urged others who feel they may be struggling not to suffer in silence.

"This was a very difficult post for me to write and one I was completely unsure whether to share but I'm doing so to raise awareness and pay my absolute respect," he wrote.

"The last thing I would want is to appear that I'm somehow piggybacking on another family's devastation following such a tragic event.

"Michael Thalassitis, who I played with alongside at Stevenage, took his own life this weekend but from the outside at least, he was living the proverbial dream. No longer a footballer but 'Thala' was catapulted into the social media stratosphere when he appeared on a reality TV show.

"You were the kind of lad I was desperate to see succeed."

"Our paths did not cross since the time we were teammates but I did reach out to him following his exit from that show to tell him how proud of him I was.

"He still called me 'Skip' and wished me and my family well."

Mark, 35, poignantly recalled their days at Stevenage, where he described Mike as 'a bundle of infectious energy and enthusiasm'.

"Mike, your life may well have changed overnight but your values clearly remained," he added. "You were a thoughtful and respectful young man. The bundle of infectious energy and enthusiasm that every dressing room needs and one I was personally drawn towards. You were the kind of lad I was desperate to see succeed."

Mike Thalassitis

"I can't pretend to know him as closely as others but I wish he could have found the right person to open up to and share exactly what he was going through. Perhaps he did but his decision was already made. I was shocked and so sad when I was told the awful news.

"No-one will ever fill the hole he will leave"

"As a father my heart aches for his family because no-one will ever fill the hole that he will leave.

"There are statistics to suggest that men in the UK aged 20-49 are more likely to die from suicide than any other cause of death.

"I'm not saying for one minute that I have all the answers to this issue but I hope through my work with other athletes that it will mean that if someone else is in trouble they could turn to me for support.

"If you are someone struggling please do not suffer in silence. There are people who are ready, willing and able to help."