Football’s darkest secret.

Pak_Doo_Ik said:
It's telling the story of years of child abuse that went on up and down the country by football coaches. It is believed that the abuse suffered by some of these kids had such long lasting effects that some ended up taking their own lives.

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC One - Football's Darkest Secret

Three-part investigation into historical child abuse in English football.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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It's absolutely awful. How that Bennell bloke got away with it for so long is staggering.
 
The thing is, growing up we all knew ‘dodgy geezers’ we were probably just too you to understand what it was. But others, adults knew. I could go into details and even name names, but obviously won’t on line, I bet quite a few people could.
 
Harrowing stories about those young footballers, just trying to get on. Amazing how the coaches got away with it for so long, even after the players had retired. The shame and not wanting to upset their families went on for years. Paul Stewart finally telling his Mam about it, when she was in her late seventies. Good on Andy Woodward for having the bottle to open that can of worms. (y)
 
It was an uncomfortable watch especially as they were talking about things that happened to them when they were the same age as my son is now.

Knowing that all the lads had the same dream and these people were perceived to be able to take that dream away from them was just sickening.

David White's comment about he couldn't tell his dad cos he would kill him(Bennell) and then he would lose him as well really made it hit home as I would be exactly the same if my son came home and told me.

Part 2 tonight and I'm sure it won't get any easier to watch.
 
Watched it last night and although I've read and watched all the news and reports about it, I still couldn't believe what I was watching and hearing last night.

Paul Stewart explaining even during his highest times as player (scoring in and winning FA Cup Final, playing for England, Liverpool, Spurs etc) and yet all he thought during his time was the abuse he got in his earlier years. It's just so sad.

How these monsters got away with their actions for so long is remarkable.

A lot of clubs and the FA have to take some responsibility.
 
Just watched first two episodes. It is hart breaking stuff.
To see grown men, strong men, crying in this way is terrible.
What is unbelievable is that all these perverts were identified in 80's and 90's by individual kids, but were able to carry on as coaches after their cases became known , for one reason or another.
 
Watched second episode tonight. Terrible for all the lads and families. There was no "Media storm" after the "Dispatches" program so the FA swept it under the carpet. Maybe things will be better now?
 
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I saw the first episode and it was difficult viewing and I felt for the victims.

It wasn't just Crewe - there were major problems at Celtic reported in the media in the late 1990s. Football coaches have a lot of power over children trying to get into the game.

Crewe had a tremendous reputation in the 1980s for producing lots of quality young players. Those in charge did not want to rock the boat was an issue they obviously didn't want to look for problems. Also the parents should have gone to the police, I don't care how charming BB was with the mums and daughters. If lots of parents were going to the Police they would have had to do something, even if it was just stopping kids going to his house and to warn him he was being watched. The Police may have not taken it as serious as they do now, but they did prosecute in the 1980s as we know from the cases found at Middlesbrough General Hospital in 1987. OK many of those actions were unfair on the parents, but it showed the Police and social services were willing to act if they thought some abuse had taken place. An adult having lots of kids at their house (not their own) including sleep overs without other adults there needs checking out even when they are their sports coach. That was true in the past. The Scouts have kept their own files on murky characters for years. Unfortunately people tend to focus solely on strangers in abuse cases when its someone very well known by children that is the threat. I also think its more difficult for boys to report abuse or was in the past.
 
Mam isn't a great one for football, in fact since dad died I've had to remind her every time I ring to check the boro score so we can chat about it the next time I call (used to chat all the time about them to dad, I'm not going to see them, they wouldn't see me when I was bad, always let you down, etc etc).

This documentary has got her glued to the telly, she says its so sad and heart breaking. Looking for it to come onto NZ screens, but might have to try and watch online.
 
Watched all 3 episodes today and my heart goes out to all the victims and their families. How was this able to go on for so long?

Even though they got justice, the mental scars will be with them for the rest of their life.
 
Marvanelli said:
Watched it last night and although I've read and watched all the news and reports about it, I still couldn't believe what I was watching and hearing last night.

Paul Stewart explaining even during his highest times as player (scoring in and winning FA Cup Final, playing for England, Liverpool, Spurs etc) and yet all he thought during his time was the abuse he got in his earlier years. It's just so sad.

How these monsters got away with their actions for so long is remarkable.

A lot of clubs and the FA have to take some responsibility.
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The clubs and the FA should be taken to task and prosecuted - by their negligence they are a party to the abuse that followed in every case that was reported fromn the date that took place. If the FA has to be dismantled so be it - their tenure has clearly been negligent towards the junior base, corrupted by personal greed and ruined the game anyway.

Absolutely disgusting.
 
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