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| Cheshire police expand football sexual abuse inquiry as 11 people come forward Cheshire police expand football sexual abuse inquiry as 11 people come forward | |
| (14 days later) | |
| Cheshire police have confirmed that 11 individuals have now contacted them as they expand their investigation into a coach’s activities over a period of three decades from the 1970s onward. | Cheshire police have confirmed that 11 individuals have now contacted them as they expand their investigation into a coach’s activities over a period of three decades from the 1970s onward. |
| Police have been re-examining convicted paedophile Barry Bennell’s activities after ex-footballer Andy Woodward waived his anonymity from an earlier trial to tell the Guardian last week about his abuse by Bennell in the 1980s while he was at Crewe Alexandra between the ages of 11 and 15. | Police have been re-examining convicted paedophile Barry Bennell’s activities after ex-footballer Andy Woodward waived his anonymity from an earlier trial to tell the Guardian last week about his abuse by Bennell in the 1980s while he was at Crewe Alexandra between the ages of 11 and 15. |
| Woodward’s harrowing account prompted another former Crewe Alexandra player, Steve Walters, to tell the Guardian about his abuse by Bennell on Tuesday, before former Spurs and Liverpool player Paul Stewart told the Daily Mirror about his treatment by a different youth coach in the 1970s. | Woodward’s harrowing account prompted another former Crewe Alexandra player, Steve Walters, to tell the Guardian about his abuse by Bennell on Tuesday, before former Spurs and Liverpool player Paul Stewart told the Daily Mirror about his treatment by a different youth coach in the 1970s. |
| Detective Inspector Sarah Hall of Cheshire police’s public protection unit said: “As of today, Wednesday 23 November, we have now been made aware of a number of people who have come forward wishing to speak to the police. At this stage we are in the process of making contact with them, and to date no arrests have been made and no one else is under investigation. | Detective Inspector Sarah Hall of Cheshire police’s public protection unit said: “As of today, Wednesday 23 November, we have now been made aware of a number of people who have come forward wishing to speak to the police. At this stage we are in the process of making contact with them, and to date no arrests have been made and no one else is under investigation. |
| “Cheshire Constabulary takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and has specialist trained officers to provide advice and support. We urge anyone who has been a victim, no matter how long ago the incident took place, to contact police on 101.” | “Cheshire Constabulary takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and has specialist trained officers to provide advice and support. We urge anyone who has been a victim, no matter how long ago the incident took place, to contact police on 101.” |
| Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “Because of Woodward’s bravery many other ex-players and apprentices are now contacting us - it is double figures now - and that is a timely warning for everybody in football about our duty of care to these youngsters. | Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “Because of Woodward’s bravery many other ex-players and apprentices are now contacting us - it is double figures now - and that is a timely warning for everybody in football about our duty of care to these youngsters. |
| “It is up to all of us now to grasp the nettle and we make sure we learn from this. I want all players, even those who didn’t make the grade, to feel that the PFA is a safe haven of support for them. We will help with counselling, treatment, whatever they need.” | “It is up to all of us now to grasp the nettle and we make sure we learn from this. I want all players, even those who didn’t make the grade, to feel that the PFA is a safe haven of support for them. We will help with counselling, treatment, whatever they need.” |
| The 71-year-old PFA chief, who played professional football from 1962 to 1980, said he had heard rumours of inappropriate behaviour by some coaches as a player. The PFA tried to investigate them through its education department, and visited apprentices at clubs, but could not get anybody to speak on the record. | The 71-year-old PFA chief, who played professional football from 1962 to 1980, said he had heard rumours of inappropriate behaviour by some coaches as a player. The PFA tried to investigate them through its education department, and visited apprentices at clubs, but could not get anybody to speak on the record. |
| Taylor said that only changed in the mid-1990s when Bennell’s conviction for raping a British boy at a football camp in the United States came to light. Prior to that, Bennell had been a successful coach and talent scout who worked with Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and several junior clubs in the north west and midlands. | Taylor said that only changed in the mid-1990s when Bennell’s conviction for raping a British boy at a football camp in the United States came to light. Prior to that, Bennell had been a successful coach and talent scout who worked with Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and several junior clubs in the north west and midlands. |
| Following his release in the US, Bennell was convicted at Chester Crown Court of 23 offences against six boys, aged from nine to 15, and was sentenced to nine years in jail. He was given a third sentence in 2015 when he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing another boy at a camp in Macclesfield in 1980. | Following his release in the US, Bennell was convicted at Chester Crown Court of 23 offences against six boys, aged from nine to 15, and was sentenced to nine years in jail. He was given a third sentence in 2015 when he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing another boy at a camp in Macclesfield in 1980. |