Dalian Atkinson was 'threatening and very upset' prior to police taser death says father

The man who died after being tasered by police was former Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday footballer Dalian Atkinson.

The 48-year-old striker - who also played for Real Sociedad and Ipswich Town - grew up on Meadow Road with his parents Ernest and Gloria.

Yesterday (Mon) Ernest, 85, told how his son flew into booze-fuelled rage shortly before he was tasered by police.

Speaking yesterday from his home, he said: "He was in a real state.

"I don't know if he was drunk or on drugs but he was very agitated and his mind was upset.

"The last thing he said to me was 'don't move' when the police came to the door.

"He was threatening and very upset. I didn't call the police but someone else did.

"He got tasered in the street outside in the road. I didn't see him but I saw a flash. I haven't had any sleep and cannot take it in.

"The police are dealing with this now."

Next door neighbour Lascelles Rose, 73, said: "I spoke to his dad this morning, he phoned me to tell me the sad news.

"He was so upset, he just kept telling me 'he's gone' and 'my boy is dead' - he is just so heartbroken.

"Dalian had been in hospital recently for a couple of months, he had been poorly but I don't know what with.

"He went to school with my three children and I've known him his whole life, he was a good man who would always be friendly and say hello.

"I used to watch him playing football in the street and you could tell then he had something special.

"He was one hell of a football player and a top man.

"I am just in complete shock trying to process what had happened.

"He was never a trouble-maker or anything like that and the police had never been round there before - I just can't understand why this has happened.

"Dalian didn't live there anymore but he did visit quite a bit, he always kept in touch with his parents and would come and see them whoever he played for.

"It is such a tragedy. He was such a talent and such a lovely man."

Dalian began his career at Ipswich Town in 1987, before Ron Atkinson bought him for £450,000 in 1989.

He was sold to Spanish side Real Sociedad for £1.7million and moved back to England to join Aston Villa for a similar fee in 1991.

There he forged a formidable partnership with Dean Saunders and went on to lift the League Cup in 1994, scoring in the 3-1 final win against Manchester United.

The 48-year-old from Telford, who won the first Match of the Day goal of the season competition in the Premiership era, died around 90 minutes after he was hit by a police stun gun at around 1.30am on Monday.

The tributes were led by former colleagues, including those who played with Atkinson in the unlikely 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup Final - a game in which Atkinson opened the scoring.

Former manager Ron Atkinson, who was the mastermind behind Villa's victory that day, told the Birmingham Mail: "This is an out-and-out tragedy.

"He was a really popular player with teammates. He was a really generous lad - sometimes too generous for his own good - but a good lad.

"He always had a smile on his face and I really like that in a player.

"He also had terrific ability. I always knew I didn't need to worry about him in big games."

Mark Bosnich, who played in goal for Villa in the cup final, wrote on Twitter: "RIP Dalian Atkinson, at his best one of the very best. xmb"

Defender Paul McGrath, widely considered to be the greatest Villa player of the modern era, added: "Don't feel to gud at the moment, Dalian Atkinson was a huge part of the Villa family I played with lovely kid and friend R.I.P pal Xx."

Winger Tony Daley, who was instrumental in the victory, added: "Devastating news...RIP Dalian"