'Football's Darkest Secret' aired on the BBC this evening, as the ramifications of extensive sexual abuse were laid bare.
In a programme that is an exceptionally difficult watch, the men who survived abuse at the hands of the likes of coaches Barry Bennell and Eddie Heath explain the impact of it on their lives.
Andy Woodward, whose landmark interview with Daniel Taylor in The Guardian in 2016 sparked a widespread inquiry into abuse in football, told the documentary about his reasons for coming forward.
Football's Darkest Secret
"It's a dirty secret, but it's also a hidden secret, deep inside you," Woodward tells 'Football's Darkest Secret'
"It's like a stutter. Even if you want to say it, there is something in your mind that stops you. That is why a lot of people will take it to the grave.
"I was suffering mentally because of what had happened in my life. It was a case of speaking to [Taylor] and seeing if he knew how I could get it written down in some way."
Woodward was planning on doing so anonymously until a couple of days before it went to print.
"I pressed the button," he said.
"The relief was unreal. And it gave me the belief that there was going to be more."
More there were, and they came forward. Former Manchester City and Liverpool player Paul Stewart told of his abuse at the hands of youth coach Frank Roper.
David Eatock spoke about the horrendous things he survived from Newscastle United coach George Ormond.
The list of the brave men who put themselves forward for the documentary goes on, and on.
Without their testimony, there is a high likelihood that this pattern of sexual abuse would have stayed hidden in the shadows.
The general public, and some of Britain's best-known footballers, praised all involved in what was a tough watch.
Reaction
This is so upsetting, but so incredibly important. It could have been any of us. It can’t ever be allowed to happen again. #FootballsDarkestSecret.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 22, 2021
This is one of the most horrific things I’ve ever seen on TV! BBC1 right now! Animals like this Barry Bennell deserve the slowest and most painful death that can possibly happen! They are real life monsters! Just rid the world of all paedophiles PLEASE!! #FootballsDarkestSecret
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) March 22, 2021
Such brave men, Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, Paul Stewart, David White, Ian Ackley, Gary Cliffe and so many other innocents, speaking out on what they endured, robbed of their childhood by evil coaches. #footballsdarkestsecret
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 22, 2021
Tonight at 9pm on @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer you can watch #FootballsDarkestSecret - the stories of amazing survivors that we are proud to call friends.
Be great if fans could share numbers below and we'd love to see some clubs RT this too.
Tag your team and ask them to share. https://t.co/C7Ysp1HCRg— Offside Trust (@OffsideTrust) March 22, 2021
Sending strength to my good mate, Steve Walters & all those affected by #FootballsDarkestSecret.
If you need support, please reach out: @samaritans 116 123 (24 hrs)@NSPCC 0800 023 2642 (football hotline)@NAPAC 0808 801 0331@theCALMzone 0800 585858 pic.twitter.com/VsKCY3Aned— Jack Sargeant MS (@JackSargeantAM) March 22, 2021
#FootballsDarkestSecret 20 minutes in. Already an unbelievably tough watch. Utterly heartbreaking.
— Stephen Wadsworth (@StephenWadswor2) March 22, 2021
Wow. Nothing but respect. The bravest men I’ve seen in years. #respect #abused #courage #inspirationalmen #rolemodels #footballsdarkestsecret #grassroots #football # pic.twitter.com/Hn23du99sT
— Blacky. (@Blacky1885) March 22, 2021
Shocking to hearing brave men talk about sexual abuse they suffered at hands of Bennell & others when all they wanted was to play soccer
But #FootballsDarkestSecret is Sport’s Darkest Secret, I can’t think of any sport where a child hasn’t been abused by someone they trusted— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) March 22, 2021
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