THE family of tragic former York City player Martin Garratt - whose funeral took place yesterday- have spoken of his battle with mental illness.

The footballer's sisters Marsha and Renee also paid tribute to a 'caring, polite and humble gentleman,' who was “immensely talented and intelligent.”

The Press revealed last weekend that Mr Garratt, who played 44 times for York's first team in the 1998/9 season, had died at a property in Middlesbrough, aged just 34. Police said his death was not suspicious and a file was being prepared for an inquest.

Now Marsha, 33, has told a Middlesbrough newspaper, the Gazette, that he had struggled with his mental health and been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

She said: “It was difficult for him, and us as a family, to cope with it. I don’t think the help is always there for people who suffer from these problems.

“He did not like to take his medication, because it sedated him, so he ended up self-medicating with drink and drugs.

“There is a stigma around mental health still - despite more people talking about it - and there shouldn’t be.”

Renee, 38, described her younger brother as a “unique person, who had a real aura and a big personality”.

She said: “He loved Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and comic books and cartoons, James Bond, things like that.

“He was very different to most of the other lads he played football with, and they’d take the mickey, but he wasn’t bothered because that’s what he was into.”

Marsha said: “He was very intelligent, he would get As and Bs at school.

"He also loved to read philosophy which made him stand out as a footballer.

“He enjoyed the outdoors and the countryside as well, and was at his happiest there.

"He used to go running when he was about 14 with our dad, and he would beat the men in the races. He was so talented.”

Mr Garratt's funeral took place at St Hilda’s Chapel at Teesside Crematorium in Acklam. Middlesbrough, yesterday.