Football's Darkest Secret

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Sport: Football

Three-part investigation into historical child abuse in English football.

Behind the goals, behind the glory - the child abuse football ignored. Their stories were overlooked for decades, until the survivors finally had their voices heard.

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Daniel Gordon

Hugh Davies

John Battsek

Steve Boulton

Ron McCullagh

Jonathan Ossoff

Insight TWI

Football's Darkest Secret: Series 1: The Reckoning

The Reckoning

BBC One - Football's Darkest Secret, Series 1, The Reckoning

What might justice look like for the men whose lives have been torn apart?

The final episode follows the court trials of high profile abusers and asks what justice might look like for the men whose lives have been torn apart.

The final episode begins in Newcastle with the stories of survivors who suffered at the hands of George Ormond, a youth coach connected to Newcastle United. Northumbria Police have begun their own investigation, alongside those already taking place in the north west and Southampton. We hear the dramatic tale of former footballer Derek Bell, who confronted Ormond hoping to secretly record a confession from his abuser on a tape recorder hidden in his pocket. 

The film asks what justice might look like for the men and their families, whose lives have been torn apart by the devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse over so many years. As the three trials come to a head, why has it taken so long to reach this point? The long-awaited FA inquiry continues to be delayed, and across the country there have been denials and even pay-offs by clubs. It is no wonder that football’s darkest secret has remained hidden for so many years, and it is only thanks to the courage and persistence of the survivors that we are finally able to shine some light on it now.

Football's Darkest Secret: Series 1

BBC One

Three-part series examining historic child abuse in youth football all across England between the 1970s and the 1990s, and the culture of silence that surrounded it.

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Football's Darkest Secret

Series 1

The Reckoning

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