Former English Players alleges Sexual Abuse

Woodward told The Guardian: “My life has been ruined until the age of 43, but how many others are there?

“I’m talking about those hundreds of children who Barry Bennell cherry-picked for various football teams and who now, as adults, might still be living with that awful fear.”

 

Walters Crewe’s youngest debutant, said he had also been abused by Bennell.

“All these years, I’ve had this secret inside me,” he added.

“But I have to let it all out now as it’s the only way. I want closure and I know that this is going to help me move on.”

 

Based in Northwest England and currently, in England’s fourth tier, Crewe have a well-established reputation for developing young players.

Crewe chairman John Bowler, who was in position at the time of Bennell’s offences, told the BBC the club were “distressed” by the accusations and would review the situation.

 

He added he was “very sorry for the distress caused” to Woodward and Walters.

Woodward is praised for speaking out by Britain’s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

“It is time that the government and sports organisations work together to close gaps in child protection. To make sure that the thousands of sports clubs across the country have some robust safeguarding policies in place,” said an NSPCC spokesman.

 

England’s Football Association set up a helpline for former players to report abuse.

In a joint statement, the FA, the Premier League and the Football League described Woodward’s story as extremely “heartbreaking” and praised his “immense courage”.