Tragic young footballer died following his struggle with mental health
All three of mattheW’s former clubs paid tribute
A TALENTED former member of Derby County Academy took his own life by jumping from the roof of his house, an inquest has found.
Matthew Langton, 20, had been playing for Long Eaton United prior to his death. He was also on the books of Mansfield Town.
An inquest, held at the Council House in Nottingham on Thursday, was told Mr Langton had been experiencing mental health difficulties and he had been prescribed anti-depressants by his GP.
Mr Langton, who worked at Toton Tesco, had gone there on February 28 to begin a night shift, but left around two hours early at 5am the next day. He was seen just after 6am by his sister who noted he seemed to be in a confused state. At around 6.30am, his mum Maxine Langton looked out of her window and saw her son lying on the floor.
A police investigation concluded he had likely jumped from a firstfloor roof. His bedroom window was found to be open.
Det Con Adam Sibley told the hearing: “A police investigation concluded Matthew had jumped from a single-storey first-floor roof. He jumped a distance from the roof on to the concrete patio and that is what has caused the injury and his passing. There were found to be no suspicious circumstances or third party involvement at all.”
Assistant coroner Fiona Gingell officially ruled Mr Langton’s death as suicide, with his death caused by multiple head injuries. A toxicology report found no alcohol or drugs in his system and no presence of the anti-depressant drugs he had been prescribed by his GP.
His family said he had long suffered with his mental health, especially after being released by Mansfield Town, but he struggled to open up about it.
Mum Ms Langton said: “I am 100 per cent sure this was his plan. I don’t think it was premeditated. It had been in his head for a while but I just think that morning he couldn’t get back into reality. I think that was his way out and I 100 per cent believe that.
“He did it that morning, but if you’d have asked me the night before [if he would have done it], I’d have said no.
“It’s been in his head to do something like this but he’s managed to bring himself out. He realised he wasn’t coming back from this and he took his own life.”
She continued: “The more we worried the more he hid everything.”
The inquest was told that a week prior to his death the young man had claimed he had gone for a two-hour drive to clear his head, but that his mum had later picked up his trainers which were soaking wet.
Ms Langton said: “He wanted to be the best at everything. He didn’t want to burden anyone.”
The inquest was told Matthew had started playing at Derby County’s Academy at the age of seven, and went on to play for Mansfield Town’s youth set-up, living away from home for around two years during the week while there. He was released in 2019, however, and, when lockdown happened less than a year later, he was unable to play for Long Eaton United – a team he had only recently joined.
Ms Langton told the coroner: “Matthew realised he was on his own then and struggled more than ever. He got released in May or June time. He was struggling then, he had been in football since he was seven with Derby County right up until Long Eaton - but then lockdown came and that did not help at all.”
Concluding the inquest, Fiona Gingell, the assistant coroner for Nottinghamshire, said: “Matthew had been struggling for some time, particularly in recent months following him being released from the academy, but his parents have been clear that wasn’t the only factor.
“Matthew had felt unable to speak to anyone about it, despite having a loving and supportive family that wanted to help. Matthew, like a lot of young men, didn’t want to burden people and worry people - particularly those he was close to and cared for.”
The inquest was told that the young man’s organs were donated after his death, in line with his wishes, and six people had benefited as a result.
His family have also helped to raise more than £18,000 after his death for mental health charity Young Minds, with his mum and dad recently completing the Robin Hood Half Marathon and a charity football match being held at Long Eaton Football Club.
Derby County, Mansfield Town and Long Eaton United all paid tribute via social media after Mr Langton’s death.