FORMER York City trainee goalkeeper Miles Massey has been cleared of supplying Ecstasy to Sheffield Wednesday player Thomas Staniforth before his death.

The prosecution offered no evidence at York Crown Court against Mr Massey, 22, of Mill Lane, Acaster Malbis, on a charge of supplying one tablet of MDMA (Ecstasy) to Mr Staniforth on August 18 last year.

The collapse of the case yesterday came as it emerged publicly for the first time that Mr Staniforth had taken the drug prior to his collapse outside a nightclub in York city centre last August.

Christine Colley, for the prosecution, said traces of MDMA had been found in his body.

The only evidence against the defendant was an alleged conversation at the funeral, when emotions were running high, in which Mr Massey had allegedly said he had given a pill to Mr Staniforth. Mr Massey had subsequently denied this, and there was nothing to link him to Mr Staniforth's collapse.

"It would not be right to prosecute this man and put the death at his door."

Judge Paul Hoffman then formally returned a not guilty verdict.

Mr Massey commented only briefly afterwards, saying: "He was one of my best friends."

But his solicitor, Joanne Milner, said: "We feel that the right verdict has been reached.

"Mr Massey is obviously relieved and happy with the outcome, and he can now start getting on with his life."

Mr Staniforth, 20, was a former Tadcaster Grammar School pupil and the son of former York City hero Gordon Staniforth.

He had become a promising player with First Division club Sheffield Wednesday when his life was cut tragically short.

His funeral at a packed and emotional York Baptist Church was attended by 400 people, including the Wednesday squad and their then manager, Peter Shreeves, and also by former England star Peter Beardsley.

Tears, cheers and terrace songs, including You'll Never Walk Alone, rang out, as the funeral turned into an extraordinary celebration of his life.

Mr Staniforth was described as a fun-loving, caring young man with a heart of gold.

His father, Gordon, said: "I am very disappointed that Ecstasy was found in Thomas's body, and I am very disappointed with the youth culture of today.

"It's just a tragic waste of life. I just hope that some good can come out of this if it shows some young people the possible consequences of taking drugs, and makes them think: 'It could have been me'."

He added that he hoped the inquest could now take place as quickly as possible to bring matters to a close.

"The strain that this has caused to both families as it has dragged on for month after month has been enormous," he said.

Updated: 11:42 Friday, April 05, 2002