Family pays tribute to former Sheffield Wednesday star ahead of funeral

Relatives of former Sheffield Wednesday striker Dalian Atkinson have paid tribute to him as a 'kind, caring and protective' son and brother and spoken of their agony over his death.
Dalian Atkinson in actionDalian Atkinson in action
Dalian Atkinson in action

The former Owl died at the age of 48 after being tasered by police officers who were called to a disturbance at his father's house in Telford, Shropshire, in August.

Speaking ahead of his funeral tomorrow, Atkinson's sister Elaine expressed frustration at not knowing 'why such force was used' by police on the night of his death.

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In a joint statement issued through a law firm, siblings of the former footballer said he had struggled to come to terms with a serious illness affecting his kidneys during the last six months of his life.

The statement read: "From his earliest years, our beloved little brother had his heart set on becoming a professional football player.

"He pursued his ambition with determination, and before he had left school, his abilities had been recognised by a talent scout working on behalf of Ipswich Town.

"Dalian grew to be a kind, caring and protective brother, with a lively personality. He was funny and cheeky. He always brought life and energy to family gatherings - when Dalian turned up, we knew there would be laughter and banter.

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"While he lived his dream and enjoyed the Premier League lifestyle, he remained a very loving son and was deeply affected by our mother's passing in 1999. He never really had the heart to play any more.

"He tried to stay positive, but it was heart-breaking for us to see a further deterioration in his health with pneumonia, leaving his light and energy significantly reduced."

Atkinson's sister, Elaine, added: "One comfort we have is that he knew that he was loved and he told us this.

"Dalian was supposed to have been admitted to hospital for treatment on the day he died.

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"Tomorrow we want to celebrate Dalian's life but the way that he died while he was so vulnerable casts such a dark shadow over everything. Every day is filled with agony and frustration because we still do not know what happened nor understand why such force was used on him."

Atkinson's brother, Kenroy Atkinson, appealed for anyone who saw what happened on August 15 to come forward and speak to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

"When Dalian died, there was a lot of confusion about the events surrounding his death," he said.

"Criminal and disciplinary investigations are now being conducted to get to the truth of what happened. While these investigations are ongoing, it is crucial that no further speculation is reported and that we wait for the findings."

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Relatives also revealed that on the evening before the ex-footballer died, he spoke at length to his sister Otis about his worries and fears, his deteriorating health and the medical care he was getting.

She said that reflecting on his life, the retired footballer told her: "All I ever wanted was to make people happy. I played football the way that I did because I wanted to entertain. I wanted everyone to go home with smiles on their faces."

The IPCC announced in August that two West Mercia Police officers had been advised they are under criminal investigation as part of its inquiry.