Football's Darkest Secret

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BBC One North West

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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.

Series 1

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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 End of Silence

The End of Silence

BBC One - Football's Darkest Secret, Series 1, The End of Silence

Former footballers speak out about the sexual abuse they suffered as youth players.

Former footballers, including Paul Stewart, David White and Andy Woodward, speak out about the sexual abuse they suffered as youth players and how it burdened them during their professional careers.

In November 2016, former footballer Andy Woodward came forward with a shocking tale of abuse that he suffered at the hands of his youth coach, Barry Bennell. In the storm that followed, hundreds of men made allegations against hundreds of their childhood coaches. 

The first episode of the series begins with Andy’s momentous revelation, then goes back in time to the 1970s to hear from former players Paul Stewart and David White as they describe growing up in Manchester with dreams of becoming footballers. Talented young players, they were soon picked up by respective local talent-spotters Barry Bennell and Frank Roper. It was the beginning of the nightmare for Paul and David - and for many other survivors. 

The programme charts these survivors from the years of abuse during their early adolescence, then explores how it affected them as they tried to pursue their footballing dreams as professionals. Whether Steve Walters starring as a youngster at Crewe or David White playing for Man City or Paul Stewart scoring in the FA Cup final for Spurs, they all feel they couldn’t enjoy their career highs because of the heavy burden of the mental scars they were carrying.

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 End of Silence

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