Footballers too afraid to speak out over sex abuse torment, says ex-England star and victim Paul Stewart
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A host of soccer stars have secretly revealed the sex abuse they suffered at the hands of coaches when they were boys.
Too afraid to go public, they spoke confidentially to former England star Paul Stewart who broke a national silence on the scandal .
Many thanked him for his inspirational interview­ with the Mirror in which he spoke of being abused after keeping quiet for 41 years.
He said: “I would never reveal who they are because that is a matter for them.”
Ex-Spurs midfielder Paul, 53, is telling his story to raise money for his charity, SAVE, set up to help victims of abuse.
(Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
The first event was in his hometown of Blackpool where he got a standing ovation after giving a harrowing account of his ordeal at the hands of Manchester Nova Juniors coach Frank Roper, who abused him from age 11 to 15. Roper died in 2005.
Paul wept as he told of the impact on his family.
Pals, including his ex-flatmate and England legend Paul Gascoigne, contributed to The Evening with Paul Stewart.
SAVE, launched with David White and Ian Ackley (both Man City) and Derek Bell (Newcastle Utd), directs victims to help. Agencies include the NSPCC, the Mirror’s Christmas Appeal charity.
More information is available here .