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Football sex abuse claims: Two more ex-players speak out Football sex abuse claims: Two more ex-players speak out
(35 minutes later)
Two more ex-footballers have told the Victoria Derbyshire programme they were abused as children by a coach.Two more ex-footballers have told the Victoria Derbyshire programme they were abused as children by a coach.
Jason Dunford and Chris Unsworth - who had "never ever told anyone before" - both said they were abused by former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell.Jason Dunford and Chris Unsworth - who had "never ever told anyone before" - both said they were abused by former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell.
Several ex-players have already spoken out, making allegations about being sexually abused by coaches as children.Several ex-players have already spoken out, making allegations about being sexually abused by coaches as children.
Bennell, 62, was jailed in 1998 for sex offences against children and was imprisoned again last year.Bennell, 62, was jailed in 1998 for sex offences against children and was imprisoned again last year.
Bennell, who also worked as a youth football scout, has also served a four-year sentence in the United States and, in 2015, was given a two-year term for sexually abusing a boy at a training camp in Macclesfield, but is now out of prison.Bennell, who also worked as a youth football scout, has also served a four-year sentence in the United States and, in 2015, was given a two-year term for sexually abusing a boy at a training camp in Macclesfield, but is now out of prison.
A dedicated NSPCC hotline was set up after the abuse claims came to light and received more than 50 calls within its first two hours.A dedicated NSPCC hotline was set up after the abuse claims came to light and received more than 50 calls within its first two hours.
Meanwhile, according to the Guardian, another ex-footballer, who has not been named, has contacted police to say he was a victim of George Ormond.Meanwhile, according to the Guardian, another ex-footballer, who has not been named, has contacted police to say he was a victim of George Ormond.
The former Newcastle United youth coach who was jailed in 2002 for offences against young footballers in the area.The former Newcastle United youth coach who was jailed in 2002 for offences against young footballers in the area.
Abuse claims: Who has spoken out?Abuse claims: Who has spoken out?
Football abused 'could number hundreds'Football abused 'could number hundreds'
We must protect next generation - FA chiefWe must protect next generation - FA chief
Mr Unsworth, 44, who lives in the Peak District, said he had decided to waive his right to anonymity and speak out after his girlfriend showed him an interview on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme with ex-Crewe player Andy Woodward.Mr Unsworth, 44, who lives in the Peak District, said he had decided to waive his right to anonymity and speak out after his girlfriend showed him an interview on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme with ex-Crewe player Andy Woodward.
Mr Woodward, 43, was the first player to go public last week to say he had been abused by Bennell.Mr Woodward, 43, was the first player to go public last week to say he had been abused by Bennell.
Having seen his interview, Mr Unsworth then told his partner he had been abused. "I had never, ever told anyone until that moment," he said.Having seen his interview, Mr Unsworth then told his partner he had been abused. "I had never, ever told anyone until that moment," he said.
"I sat the rest of my family down yesterday and told them too. Speaking out is liberating.""I sat the rest of my family down yesterday and told them too. Speaking out is liberating."
Mr Unsworth was initially a youth player at Manchester City with Bennell and then moved to Crewe with him when he was about 12.Mr Unsworth was initially a youth player at Manchester City with Bennell and then moved to Crewe with him when he was about 12.
He said he had stayed at Bennell's house several times and Bennell sometimes had two or three boys in the bed at once, where he would abuse them.He said he had stayed at Bennell's house several times and Bennell sometimes had two or three boys in the bed at once, where he would abuse them.
"We never spoke to each other about it," Mr Unsworth said. "I was raped between 50 and 100 times.""We never spoke to each other about it," Mr Unsworth said. "I was raped between 50 and 100 times."
He left football aged 16 and became a professional golfer. He has now spoken to Cheshire Police and is waiting to be interviewed by them.He left football aged 16 and became a professional golfer. He has now spoken to Cheshire Police and is waiting to be interviewed by them.
Mr Dunford, who has also waived his right to anonymity, said he had been staying at a Butlins holiday camp after winning a football competition, when Bennell attempted to touch him in bed.Mr Dunford, who has also waived his right to anonymity, said he had been staying at a Butlins holiday camp after winning a football competition, when Bennell attempted to touch him in bed.
'Tormented me''Tormented me'
He said: "I told him to get off me. After that, Bennell began to torment me - dropping me from the team, telling me I would play, but on the Sunday dropping me again."He said: "I told him to get off me. After that, Bennell began to torment me - dropping me from the team, telling me I would play, but on the Sunday dropping me again."
Mr Dunford left the Manchester City nursery team, as it was known then, and moved to different boys' teams. At one point, he said, another coach also attempted to abuse him.Mr Dunford left the Manchester City nursery team, as it was known then, and moved to different boys' teams. At one point, he said, another coach also attempted to abuse him.
He said: "He had me and two others over to stay the night before a game, and we all stayed in the same bed.He said: "He had me and two others over to stay the night before a game, and we all stayed in the same bed.
"He started to touch me in the night. I pushed his hand away.""He started to touch me in the night. I pushed his hand away."
"Later I woke up again, and the coach was touching one of the other boys.""Later I woke up again, and the coach was touching one of the other boys."
Mr Dunford left that club two weeks after this alleged abuse. He has now given a report to the police.Mr Dunford left that club two weeks after this alleged abuse. He has now given a report to the police.
Neither player turned professional, in part because they felt Bennell drove them away from the game.Neither player turned professional, in part because they felt Bennell drove them away from the game.
'I always denied it''I always denied it'
Cheshire Police said 11 people had come forward after Mr Woodward spoke out, including his fellow ex-Crewe player Steve Walters, 44, who said he had been abused by Bennell, when he was 13 or 14, during a trip to Anglesey.Cheshire Police said 11 people had come forward after Mr Woodward spoke out, including his fellow ex-Crewe player Steve Walters, 44, who said he had been abused by Bennell, when he was 13 or 14, during a trip to Anglesey.
"Closing it is important to me," he said."Closing it is important to me," he said.
"A young boy goes to a football club to play football, not to rip his life apart."A young boy goes to a football club to play football, not to rip his life apart.
"Whoever is accountable for this needs to pay now, because there's more than one of us.""Whoever is accountable for this needs to pay now, because there's more than one of us."
Mr Walters said he had seen counsellors and "struggles with nightmares and sleeping problems".Mr Walters said he had seen counsellors and "struggles with nightmares and sleeping problems".
"My name was always mentioned by other people who thought I'd been abused, so police asked me three times, but I always denied it," he said."My name was always mentioned by other people who thought I'd been abused, so police asked me three times, but I always denied it," he said.
"I thought I still had a chance of football, which is why I kept saying it didn't happen.""I thought I still had a chance of football, which is why I kept saying it didn't happen."
Dario Gradi, who was Crewe Alexandra's manager for more than 24 years and is now its director of football and academy director, has offered "sympathy to the victims of Barry Bennell" and said he had first known of his crimes when Bennell was arrested in the United States in 1994.Dario Gradi, who was Crewe Alexandra's manager for more than 24 years and is now its director of football and academy director, has offered "sympathy to the victims of Barry Bennell" and said he had first known of his crimes when Bennell was arrested in the United States in 1994.
England captain Wayne Rooney, who is also a NSPCC ambassador, has urged other players to come forward following the charity's hotline launch.England captain Wayne Rooney, who is also a NSPCC ambassador, has urged other players to come forward following the charity's hotline launch.
Manchester City said it had opened an investigation amid allegations that Bennell had an association with the club in the 1980s.Manchester City said it had opened an investigation amid allegations that Bennell had an association with the club in the 1980s.
From 2001, the FA put in place new rules to protect children, requiring all teams to have a trained safeguarding or welfare officer.From 2001, the FA put in place new rules to protect children, requiring all teams to have a trained safeguarding or welfare officer.
Former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios told BBC Breakfast that the FA had sent letters to clubs across the country urging them to look at their procedures.Former Football Association chief executive Mark Palios told BBC Breakfast that the FA had sent letters to clubs across the country urging them to look at their procedures.
But he said high-profile clubs were "more easily regulated" than grassroots clubs, which rely largely on volunteer workers who are more difficult to direct.But he said high-profile clubs were "more easily regulated" than grassroots clubs, which rely largely on volunteer workers who are more difficult to direct.
Some critics say the regulations rely too much on children being able to report abuse.Some critics say the regulations rely too much on children being able to report abuse.
Another form of protection - called mandatory reporting - is in place in many other countries. This makes it a criminal offence to not report neglect or suspicions of neglect.Another form of protection - called mandatory reporting - is in place in many other countries. This makes it a criminal offence to not report neglect or suspicions of neglect.
'No cover-up''No cover-up'
Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, which represents players, told the BBC that the PFA and the FA had been aware of rumours of abuse.Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, which represents players, told the BBC that the PFA and the FA had been aware of rumours of abuse.
But he said: "No complaints were made at all - it's become apparent that they [the victims] didn't even tell their families."But he said: "No complaints were made at all - it's become apparent that they [the victims] didn't even tell their families."
He added: "There was no cover-up, no wall of silence. Andy Woodward took two years of therapy to come out."He added: "There was no cover-up, no wall of silence. Andy Woodward took two years of therapy to come out."
Damian Collins, the chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, said the industry should question if people "turned their gaze from it because the problem seemed so difficult". MP Damian Collins, the chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, said the industry should question if people "turned their gaze from it because the problem seemed so difficult".
He said it would be extremely difficult for young players to speak out against their revered coaches, who guide their future careers.He said it would be extremely difficult for young players to speak out against their revered coaches, who guide their future careers.
He told BBC Radio 5 live that the industry needs to look at whether there are "safe spaces someone can go and say there is a very serious allegation they want to make".He told BBC Radio 5 live that the industry needs to look at whether there are "safe spaces someone can go and say there is a very serious allegation they want to make".
After Mr Woodward spoke out, ex-players David White and Paul Stewart also waived their right to anonymity to speak out about alleged abuse.After Mr Woodward spoke out, ex-players David White and Paul Stewart also waived their right to anonymity to speak out about alleged abuse.
Mr White, a former Manchester City and England player, 49, said Bennell had abused him between 1979 and 1980.Mr White, a former Manchester City and England player, 49, said Bennell had abused him between 1979 and 1980.
Mr Stewart, 52, a former England international, who started his career at Blackpool and also played for Manchester City and Liverpool, told the BBC he believed hundreds of people could come forward to say they were abused as young players.Mr Stewart, 52, a former England international, who started his career at Blackpool and also played for Manchester City and Liverpool, told the BBC he believed hundreds of people could come forward to say they were abused as young players.
He previously told the Daily Mirror an unnamed coach had abused him daily for four years up to the age of 15.He previously told the Daily Mirror an unnamed coach had abused him daily for four years up to the age of 15.
The Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel.The Victoria Derbyshire programme is broadcast on weekdays between 09:00 and 11:00 on BBC Two and the BBC News channel.