Matt Le Tissier: Premier League legend claims he was given ‘naked massage’ by ex-Southampton ‘star-finder’ youth coach Bob Higgins
Higgins was named by Sun on Sunday as the coach at the centre of investigation by the Hampshire police
MATT LE TISSIER has claimed he was given a "naked massage" by former Southampton youth coach Bob Higgins.
The Sun on Sunday previously revealed that Higgins has been named to cops by former youth players at the club.
Higgins timeline
BOB HIGGINS was the man dubbed the ’star finder’ when he was working at Southampton in the 1980s.
He helped bring through future England internationals such as Alan Shearer and Matt Le Tissier in his time with the south coast club.
But he was also accused of indecent assaults against young players, leading to court cases.
1985: A teenaged Le Tissier joins Southampton, where Higgins is employed in the youth set-up.
April 1989: Higgins leaves Saints. The same month, the Football League sends a letter to all clubs warning them to steer clear of the Bob Higgins Soccer Academy.
1992: Higgins is cleared of indecent assault charges relating to incidents between 1985 and 1989.
May 1995: Higgins joins Peterborough United as youth team manager.
April 1996: Higgins leaves Peterborough “by mutual consent”.
1997: Higgins is investigated by film-makers from Channel 4’s Dispatches — and denies the accusations.
1997: Hampshire Police and the county’s social services send out a warning letter about Higgins.
2001: Higgins is sacked as manager of non-league Bashley and goes on to boss Winchester City.
2012: Fleet Town hire Higgins but admit he was not police-checked as he did not work with children. He no longer works there.
December 2016: Six former Saints youth players, including Dean Radford, Billy Seymour and Jamie Webb, reveal they have named Higgins to police.
Yesterday: Le Tissier lifts the lid on the “disgusting” naked massages to which he was subjected as a youngster there.
Higgins, 63 – who denies any wrongdoing – was known as a “star-finder” at Southampton for spotting talent in the eighties.
He helped bring players like Alan Shearer and Le Tissier through the youth ranks towards the first team squad.
But SunSport understands at least seven players have come forward to Hampshire police and the NSPCC hotline about alleged abuse by the coach.
And Le Tissier has now said the accusations were not surprising to him - claiming Higgins gave him a naked massage when he was young.
The Southampton legend told the : “Everyone was just naked and you’d get thrown on this bed for a very, very quick massage.
“It was uncomfortable… I remember feeling very uncomfortable at the time.”
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Le Tissier has not claimed to have been abused by Higgins, but said the incident was “very wrong”.
He said: “It’s very, very wrong…but as a young boy you saw everyone else doing it and thought ‘Oh right, is this normal?’
“Looking back it’s pretty disgusting, I think. What went on is not normal behaviour.
“When you hear stories of the naked soapy water massages, hairy bum competitions, that kind of stuff…you lack back on it and think 'Hang on a minute, what was going on?'”
Le Tissier also praised the bravery of those who have come forward about historic sex abuse in football.
And the footie ace-turned-pundit said he hoped the courage of those who were abused in speaking out will encourage others to do the same.
He added: “It’s a long time ago - it’s just incredible they were able to get away with it for so long.”
In 1997 Higgins was the subject of a warning letter sent out by Hampshire Police and the county’s social services.
NOW QPR IN GIELER INQUIRY
QUEENS PARK RANGERS have admitted they are aware of abuse claims made against former employee Chris Gieler.
The Championship club said it “takes these allegations very seriously” and would “co-operate fully in any forthcoming investigation”.
Gieler was employed by QPR for about 30 years, working in youth development and as chief scout. He left in 2003 and died in 2004.
The Hoops said: “Any form of abuse has no place in football or society.
“QPR has robust recruitment procedures and safeguarding policies.”
The FA has announced its internal review into the allegations in football will be led by Clive Sheldon QC.
And the organisation has pledged Sheldon will call to account the FA itself, clubs and anyone else found to have failed victims.
It said: “The over-riding objectives of the review are to ensure any failings are brought to light and to ensure lessons are learned.”
(By DAN KING)
It declared he was “considered a risk to children” and told schools and youth groups to alert them if he approached them to try and recruit new players.
Higgins was acquitted in 1992 of six charges of indecent assault at Southampton Crown Court.
But it also emerged that the Football League had concerns about Higgins as far back as 1989.
That year, the League sent a letter to junior clubs who might have been approached to work with the Bob Higgins Soccer Academy saying they were opposed to the organisation.
The letter was sent the same month Higgins stopped working in Southampton’s youth system.
Some 18 police forces across the UK are now examining claims from more than 350 people, implicating 55 clubs in the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the sport.
Gary said he was sexually assaulted hundreds of times by scout Eddie Heath while in the youth side.
The apology came after Johnson claimed he was paid £50,000 to keep quiet after years of sexual abuse.
Since then, four more top clubs have been accused of paying out hush money to the alleged victims of historical sex abuse.
There is no suggestion of inappropriate behaviour towards the other players mentioned in this article.