A CUP game was postponed tonight following the death of a North-East player.

Rushden and Diamonds' FA Trophy first-round replay against Eastwood Town was called off after the death of goalkeeper Dale Roberts.

The match was to have been held at Eastwood, Nottinghamshire.

The 24-year-old joined from Nottingham Forest in January 2009 and was an England C international.

Roberts, who hailed from Horden, County Durham, was a product of Sunderland and Middlesbrough academies, and played for the under-17s at Boro. He was close friends with Manchester City and England player Adam Johnson. The cause of his death remained unclear tonight.