I tried to kill myself during battle with depression says soccer hero Dean Windass

Windass, who famously scored the only goal of the 2008 Football League Championship play-off final to take Hull City into the Premiership for the first time in their history, announced his retirement two years ago.

But he says he lost his sense of purpose and has cried every day since, with personal problems adding to his depression.

Windass – who, at 42, is the same age as Wales manager Gary Speed who was found hanged last November – said: “People outside football think we have it all.

“But I was in a hole that I honestly didn’t know how to get out of.

“Just over a week ago I hit rock-bottom and decided to end it all.

“I first took an overdose and when that didn’t work tried to hang myself. I felt so alone and believed I had nothing to live for.”

Bernard Noble, of Hull City Official Supporters Club, said Windass had been helping members to raise money for the cancer centre at Cottingham’s Castle Hill Hospital.

He said: “He is very much loved by the people of Hull, not just by them but all the other clubs he’s been with.

“I believe he has gone into rehab; we are going to contact him and say we are here for you.

“We want him to continue the charity work he’s doing. We want him to get well and come back as soon as he can.”