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| Footballers' trust to 'fight for justice' over abuse | Footballers' trust to 'fight for justice' over abuse |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three ex-footballers who say they were sexually abused as children have called for the sport to back an independent trust that will "fight for justice". | Three ex-footballers who say they were sexually abused as children have called for the sport to back an independent trust that will "fight for justice". |
| The Offside Trust is fronted by former Crewe Alexandra players Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, and ex-Manchester City youth player Chris Unsworth. | The Offside Trust is fronted by former Crewe Alexandra players Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, and ex-Manchester City youth player Chris Unsworth. |
| Woodward - the first to speak out about abuse - said: "We have all been through it and we just want justice." | Woodward - the first to speak out about abuse - said: "We have all been through it and we just want justice." |
| The players have waived their right to anonymity to tell their stories. | The players have waived their right to anonymity to tell their stories. |
| They broke their silence last month about abuse in football, prompting more people to come forward. | They broke their silence last month about abuse in football, prompting more people to come forward. |
| A total of 350 people have alleged they are victims and 55 amateur and professional football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse. | A total of 350 people have alleged they are victims and 55 amateur and professional football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse. |
| Eighteen police forces have announced investigations. | Eighteen police forces have announced investigations. |
| 'Free from pain' | |
| The Offside Trust aims to create a support network for players who have suffered abuse and their families. | |
| At its launch on Monday, Woodward said: "We do want justice because we all suffered a terrible ordeal. | |
| "We want to move forward so we can protect the children suffering right now. | |
| "It [the trust] is not about anything more than we just want to help people. That's it." | |
| The footballers say they hope to work with other sports and schools in the long term. | |
| "All I want out of this is for us to be free from the pain that we have gone through," Woodward said. | |
| On speaking out, an emotional Walters told the news conference: "It's the best thing I have ever done now. | |
| "I have carried a 100 ton weight on my back for years and years and that's gone now, there is a light at the end of the tunnel." | |
| On Sunday, FA head of equality and safeguarding Sue Ravenlaw told BBC Radio 5 live that the scale of the historical abuse allegations was the biggest challenge for the FA, alongside reassuring young people that football is safer today. | On Sunday, FA head of equality and safeguarding Sue Ravenlaw told BBC Radio 5 live that the scale of the historical abuse allegations was the biggest challenge for the FA, alongside reassuring young people that football is safer today. |
| Pointing to the safeguarding regulations that have been in place over the past 10 to 15 years, she said: "I would like to think the culture has changed." | Pointing to the safeguarding regulations that have been in place over the past 10 to 15 years, she said: "I would like to think the culture has changed." |
| However, she said the scale of the abuse allegations was a "massive wake-up call" for club owners and directors to do the right thing at every level. | However, she said the scale of the abuse allegations was a "massive wake-up call" for club owners and directors to do the right thing at every level. |