Cheshire police have been contacted by 11 people after a former professional footballer went public about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child.
Andy Woodward, 43, spoke out last week about how he was abused for years by former Crewe Alexandra coach and talent scout Barry Bennell.
Since his interview with the Guardian was published, two other former professionals – ex- Crewe player Steve Walters and former Liverpool and England man Paul Stewart – have spoken to the Press about their own ordeals.
Woodward was targeted by serial paedophile Bennell, 62, while he was employed by Crewe. Woodward, like Walters, went on to play for the Cheshire club professionally but his career ended when he was aged 29 as he was unable to cope with the aftereffects of what he endured as a child.
Following the publicity surrounding Woodward's initial interview, 11 other people have made contact with Cheshire Constabulary.
Detective Inspector Sarah Hall of Cheshire police’s public Protection unit said: “As of today, Wednesday, November 23, 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.”
Bennell admitted 23 charges of sexual offences against boys aged nine to 15, including Woodward, in 1998 and was jailed for nine years. He abused one boy on Crewe’s training pitch.
Woodward waived his anonymity and told the Guardian he had been raped on hundreds of occasions by Bennell, who was also jailed for two years in 2015 for a historic sex offence against a boy, aged 12, on a football course.
Woodward, a defender who also played for Bury and Sheffield United, also spoke of his belief that many other players had suffered in silence.
Since Woodward's interview, Walters – a 44-year-old midfielder who was not part of the case against Bennell – decided it was time to speak out about the abuse he claims he suffered from the peadophile.
"It’s been unbearable but, just from reading the article from Andy, it already feels like a massive burden off my shoulders," he said.
Crewe Alexandra were initially reluctant to comment publicly on the ex-players' accounts but issued a statement from chairman John Bowler yesterday (November 22) which read: "Crewe Alexandra Football Club appreciate that concern has been expressed about the delay in the club making any comment to recent media coverage.
"When things come out of the blue like this, you first want to make inquiries and reflect from within. That is the process we started last week.
"We are a proud football club and would always take any allegation seriously. Any form of abuse has no place in football or society.
"We have already concurred with the statements made by the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League that described Andy Woodward's ordeal as 'heart breaking' and praised him for his 'immense courage'."
Stewart, the third ex-pro to come forward, shared the trauma of his horrific child sex abuse ordeal in an interview with the Mirror.
The former Spurs and Manchester City man, now 52, claims he was assaulted by a football coach every day when he was between the ages of 11 and 15. He says his tormentor, who has not been named, got away with it because he threatened to kill his relatives if he ever told anyone.
The Football Association is setting up a helpline for potential victims.
