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Southampton 'abuser' still working in football | Southampton 'abuser' still working in football |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An ex-Southampton FC employee who has been accused of abusing young boys at the club in the 1980s is still working in football, the BBC understands. | An ex-Southampton FC employee who has been accused of abusing young boys at the club in the 1980s is still working in football, the BBC understands. |
The man, who has not been named for legal reasons, is understood to have left Southampton after concerns were raised about his behaviour - but is now employed by another football club. | The man, who has not been named for legal reasons, is understood to have left Southampton after concerns were raised about his behaviour - but is now employed by another football club. |
A former youth player has told the BBC he was abused by the man. | A former youth player has told the BBC he was abused by the man. |
He is the fourth to allege he was subjected to abuse at Southampton. | He is the fourth to allege he was subjected to abuse at Southampton. |
The footballer was at Southampton for two years, between the ages of 14 and 16, in the 1980s, during which time he says a member of staff molested him. | The footballer was at Southampton for two years, between the ages of 14 and 16, in the 1980s, during which time he says a member of staff molested him. |
Now a man in his 40s, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that young team-mates were made to take part in games of a sexual nature. | |
And he described the shame he felt as an adult looking back on what happened, saying he would dread going near the man. | |
He said the club employee would inspect the boys while they were naked, deliberately touch them inappropriately while giving massages, and make them put their heads in his lap. | |
He described a game in which young players were told to strip naked and expose their backsides in a contest, with the "loser" told to run naked around a tree. | |
He said: "At the time I was 14 and we thought the weird games he made us play... was a laugh. But I would never dream of asking anyone to do it now, I'd be locked up. | |
"He tried to assault me in a hotel room. I've sort of blocked it out of my mind. When it happened I just got up before he did anything, I got out of the room." | |
He criticised the police and Southampton FC for not doing more to investigate what happened at the club. | |
"I'm angry it's happening now and wasn't sorted out years ago," he said. "There's lots of failures in the system and he needs to be held accountable and he's scarred me. | |
"I've been offered money to talk about this but I don't want money, I just want him behind bars." | |
The BBC understands the employee left Southampton after concerns were raised about his behaviour towards the young players. | The BBC understands the employee left Southampton after concerns were raised about his behaviour towards the young players. |
He went on to work for other clubs, although the BBC understands he was asked to leave one of them. The man is again working at another football club. | He went on to work for other clubs, although the BBC understands he was asked to leave one of them. The man is again working at another football club. |
Southampton Football Club said it had contacted police after receiving information regarding historical child abuse and had offered its full support for any investigation. | Southampton Football Club said it had contacted police after receiving information regarding historical child abuse and had offered its full support for any investigation. |
Meanwhile, former footballers Andy Woodward, 43, Steve Walters and Chris Unsworth, both 44, have launched a support organisation - called the Offside Trust - to support players who are victims of abuse and their families. | Meanwhile, former footballers Andy Woodward, 43, Steve Walters and Chris Unsworth, both 44, have launched a support organisation - called the Offside Trust - to support players who are victims of abuse and their families. |
The former players broke their silence last month to make claims of abuse in football, prompting several more to come forward. | The former players broke their silence last month to make claims of abuse in football, prompting several more to come forward. |
On Thursday, former Southampton players Dean Radford and Jamie Webb alleged they had suffered years of sexual abuse by a former employee. | On Thursday, former Southampton players Dean Radford and Jamie Webb alleged they had suffered years of sexual abuse by a former employee. |
A third player has spoken to the BBC but remained anonymous. | A third player has spoken to the BBC but remained anonymous. |
Ex-Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy said he was "shocked and disgusted" by claims of grooming and sexual abuse. | Ex-Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy said he was "shocked and disgusted" by claims of grooming and sexual abuse. |
On Friday, former Chelsea footballer Gary Johnson, who was a member of the first team from 1978 to 1981, claimed the club had paid him £50,000 to keep quiet about abuse allegations. | On Friday, former Chelsea footballer Gary Johnson, who was a member of the first team from 1978 to 1981, claimed the club had paid him £50,000 to keep quiet about abuse allegations. |
He told the Daily Mirror he had been abused as a youth player in the 1970s by the club's former scout, Eddie Heath, who is now dead. | He told the Daily Mirror he had been abused as a youth player in the 1970s by the club's former scout, Eddie Heath, who is now dead. |
Former Chelsea midfielder Alan Hudson has said on Facebook that it was "common knowledge that Mr Heath was a danger to us youngsters". | Former Chelsea midfielder Alan Hudson has said on Facebook that it was "common knowledge that Mr Heath was a danger to us youngsters". |
Former England defender John Scales, whose clubs included Liverpool and Tottenham, told Today: "Football is a strange environment, the dressing room is a ruthless place where any vulnerability is a no-no because players would feel that they would be victimised, bullied, made a fool of, whatever. | Former England defender John Scales, whose clubs included Liverpool and Tottenham, told Today: "Football is a strange environment, the dressing room is a ruthless place where any vulnerability is a no-no because players would feel that they would be victimised, bullied, made a fool of, whatever. |
"There's all sorts of rumours that go round dressing rooms and players talk, but never once did I ever hear of a player talking about having been sexually abused as a boy coming up through the ranks at a football club." | "There's all sorts of rumours that go round dressing rooms and players talk, but never once did I ever hear of a player talking about having been sexually abused as a boy coming up through the ranks at a football club." |
He said the only suspicion was about Crewe Alexandra FC which was at the centre of rumour and gossip. | He said the only suspicion was about Crewe Alexandra FC which was at the centre of rumour and gossip. |
Gerry Sutcliffe, sports minister between 2007 and 2010, said there was concern at the time about how the Football Association dealt with governance of the sport and with youth development. | |
Now, he said, an independent body, such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, should look at the issue rather than the FA investigating itself. | |
"What I've seen in football over the years is that they're very narrow, very insular, and may not do a proper job even though with the right intentions," he said. | "What I've seen in football over the years is that they're very narrow, very insular, and may not do a proper job even though with the right intentions," he said. |
The FA has said its review will be led by external lawyers and has not ruled out widening the investigation. | |
The captains of the England men's, women's and cerebral palsy football teams - Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton and Jack Rutter - have taken part in a film about how to keep children safe in the sport. | The captains of the England men's, women's and cerebral palsy football teams - Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton and Jack Rutter - have taken part in a film about how to keep children safe in the sport. |
Ex-England captain Alan Shearer has said he has been "shocked and deeply saddened" by revelations of abuse in the game. | Ex-England captain Alan Shearer has said he has been "shocked and deeply saddened" by revelations of abuse in the game. |
Some 18 police forces have announced investigations into claims of sexual abuse in football. | Some 18 police forces have announced investigations into claims of sexual abuse in football. |
A total of 350 people have come forward alleging they were victims and 55 football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse. | A total of 350 people have come forward alleging they were victims and 55 football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse. |
A dedicated NSPCC helpline received more than 800 phone calls in a week. The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642. | A dedicated NSPCC helpline received more than 800 phone calls in a week. The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642. |
Police forces investigating allegations of historical sexual abuse within football: | Police forces investigating allegations of historical sexual abuse within football: |
Kent Police also said it had received reports which it was reviewing. | Kent Police also said it had received reports which it was reviewing. |