Footballers ‘abused by coaches’ form trust to help victims as Southampton confirm contact with police
The trust will be independent of the Football Association and Professional Footballers' Association
FORMER footballers who have made allegations of child abuse by coaches have announced they are forming a trust to help potential victims.
The move comes as Southampton football club confirmed it has contacted police after receiving information in relation to historical child abuse.
Andy Woodward, 43, and Steve Walters and Chris Unsworth, both 44, broke their silence last month to make claims of suffering abuse in the youth football system.
So far, 18 police forces have announced investigations, while a dedicated NSPCC helpline received more than 800 phone calls in a week.
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Former Crewe Alexandra player Andy Woodward was first to speak out, while ex-Crewe midfielder Steve Walters, and former Manchester City man Chris Unsworth have also made allegations that they suffered abuse as trainees.
They said they want Offside Trust to support players who are victims, and their families.
Woodward said: "This is purely about justice.
"Getting things right so in the future this can't happen again.
"In anything, whether it's football, sport or whatever.
"We've got to put our heads down.
"We need to change this."
The trust will be independent of the Football Association and Professional Footballers' Association.
It will ask for donations from the FA, the Football League and the PFA and other commercial organisations who profit from the game.
The club said it will work with cops as a major probe into historical child sex abuse in youth football continues up and down the country.
Southampton FC said: "Southampton Football Club would like to confirm that we have contacted Hampshire Police following information supplied to us in relation to historical child abuse within football.
"Hampshire Police and Southampton Football Club are committed to working together to investigate any historical allegations that may be brought to light in the Hampshire area.
"The club has informed Hampshire Police that we will offer our full support to any investigation they undertake, for as long as it takes, and with our full focus."
West Midlands police said it is currently "investigating four historical allegations of child sexual abuse in football" and Kent police said it has also received reports of abuse within the county's football community.
A Kent Police spokesman said the force was reviewing the reports of abuse it had received, while the names of the football clubs linked to the claims and the number of allegations received have not been disclosed.
A former Chelsea player said he was paid £50,000 by the club not to go public with allegations that he was sexually abused by its former chief scout.
Ex-Chelsea striker Gary Johnson, 57, said the Premier League club asked him to sign a "gagging order" and has called for "total transparency".
Mr Heath, who was the club's chief scout from 1968 to 1979, died before the allegations were made.
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