Child Abuse in Football

A lot about this in the news at the moment:

Snipped:

"Hundreds" of children may have been sexually abused by figures within football, former England and Tottenham player Paul Stewart has told the BBC.
Mr Stewart, who says he was abused by a coach for four years as a child, said the sport could face allegations on the scale of the Jimmy Savile scandal.
It comes as the NSPCC said more than 50 people had rung an abuse helpline within two hours of it being set up.
It was launched after four footballers spoke about being abused as children.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38093957

Additional stuff:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3968266/Coach-centre-football-s-paedophile-scandal-jail-living-new-identity-mile-two-schools-shocked-locals-battle-evicted.html

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/nov/23/david-white

http://news.sky.com/story/barry-bennell-who-is-man-behind-footballs-abuse-scandal-10669834

Doesn't this prove that the children and adults who have been or are abused forever keep it secret. So sad that until one person has the strength to speak out, be supported and more importantly - be believed - nothing is spoken of.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/two-more-footballers-come-forward-9331020

An ex-footballer has claimed former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell's alleged abuse of young players make Jimmy Savile 'look like a choirboy'.

Paul Stewart who turned professional refuses to name his abuser,why?

Not sure but from all what I've read so far from peoples account on things then his sounds the least convincing by some distance.

I think it will be a case of separating the wheat from the chaff. This is going to get very big and although there will be a lot of truth in these horrendous stories, they'll also be a lot of ex-footballers that have perhaps fallen on hard times looking for that opportunity to sell a story.

Snipped from:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38090926

Here's what has happened so far.

Who has spoken out?

16 November: Former Bury and Sheffield United player Andy Woodward, 43, tells the Guardian he was sexually abused by convicted paedophile and former football coach Barry Bennell while at Crewe Alexandra between the ages of 11 and 15.

22 November: Steve Walters, 44, also claims he was sexually abused by Bennell while at Crewe. Walters, who in 1988 became the club's youngest debutant, also made the allegations to the Guardian.

23 November: Former England and Tottenham footballer Paul Stewart, 52, tells the Mirror he was sexually abused as a youth player. Stewart, who began his professional career with Blackpool and also played for Manchester City and Liverpool, claims an unnamed coach - not Bennell - abused him daily for four years.

23 November: Ex-Manchester City striker David White, 49, alleges he was also sexually abused by Bennell in the late 1970s and early 1980s, while playing for Whitehill FC junior team in Manchester.

All four men waived their right to lifelong anonymity to speak out to the media.

24 November: According to the Guardian, an anonymous ex-footballer has contacted police to say he was a victim of George Ormond - a former Newcastle United youth coach who was jailed in 2002 for offences against young footballers in the area. Police are investigating an allegation of "historical sexual offences in Newcastle".

25 November: Two other men speak on Friday's edition of the Victoria Derbyshire programme. Jason Dunford and Chris Unsworth say they were abused by Bennell as youth players.

Jim Torbett was jailed in 1998 for two years  for abusing three young players at Celtic F.C, one of which was Alan Brazil the former Manchester United star and current Talk Sport host.
Remarkably Torbett was rehired by the club after his time prison due to his close relationship with the then Celtic chairman Kevin Kelly.

Another former Celtic F.C. Chairman John Reid, Home Secretary at time of Maddie Mccann's disappearance, was labelled a sex pest by Dawn Primarolo Treasury Minister to Gordon Brown.

Dr. Gerald McCann was also an employee of aforementioned football club, Celtic F.C.

Funny old game.

Evening Officer.

I forgot about all the old Celtic/Alan Brazil stuff. There's an infamous song that's often chanted in the Rangers stands - called Big Jock knew.

I also forgot about the early Gerry McCann links from his time in Glasgow to Celtic FC as well.

Thanks for bringing that up. And welcome to the forum by the way.

bluebell wrote:Doesn't this prove that the children and adults who have been or are abused forever keep it secret.  So sad that until one person has the strength to speak out, be supported and more importantly - be believed - nothing is spoken of.

It was very moving watching those brave men on the news today. But how the hell did Bennell get off so lightly for his past offences? 3 times he has been jailed, the last one for a mere 2 years. He is now out on licence.

Any links for Gerry and Celtic fc anyone?? John Reid would also have been hugely influential with Tony Blair.. Did he know Gerry....he was on the board of Celtic.

He was the star striker and top goal scorer in the late nineties.... Well in McCann world he'd want you to believe that.

Out at mo but will look for some actual links later. Maybe officer Dibble could return with some.

Bampots wrote:Any links for Gerry and Celtic fc anyone?? John Reid would also have been hugely influential with Tony Blair.. Did he know Gerry....he was on the board of Celtic.

I remember once over looking into Fergus McCann.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fergus_McCann

Interesting in terms of the obligatory golf and Canadian links, but generally he is credited with ending an alleged culture of abuse within Celtic boys club and is by and large regarded as one of the good guys.

On Thursday, officers from Thames Valley Police removed items and a dog from Bennell's home.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3978514/Paedophile-football-coach-Barry-Bennell-rushed-hospital.html#ixzz4ROWD9GRM
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What will the dog be able to tell them?

Eric Bristow: Ex-darts champion loses Sky role for football sex abuse comments

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/38141331

You can read his tweets: @ericbristow

ETA: He's deleted most of them now but you can read them if you just search his name.

I saw some of his tweets about it. Not on twitter but shown on some football website I think it was. I didn't actually realise it was from himself at the time. Assumed it was a fake account from someone pretending to be him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3981774/Former-trainee-footballer-urges-medics-Barry-Bennell-alive-face-justice.html

I think it was the Sun that also mentioned an 'attempted suicide' although not seen anything to confirm it. I did suspect it was either that or he got lynched.

A bit more on the latest:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3983096/Former-football-coach-Barry-Bennell-charged-eight-sexual-assaults-against-boy-aged-14.html