Woodward: Sexual abuse in football 'potentially worse than' Jimmy Savile case
I've got hundreds of stories of what happened at that football club, as have so many others
Former footballer Andy Woodward joined us today after speaking out about the sexual abuse he suffered from his coach in the 1980s, to reiterate his belief there are many others - potentially hundreds - who are living with their own secret.
The 43 year old told The Guardian last week of how he was targeted for several years at Crewe Alexandra from the age of 11 by Barry Bennell, who was a youth team coach. He claims he was raped hundreds of times and thinks many other players have since suffered in silence.
Speaking courageously to GMB this morning, Andy said his abuse - which he believes went on for at least four years - has had an affect on his personal relationships, with his ex wives and children suffering as he went through a number of nervous breakdowns
He told us: "{The coaches} had ultimate power over us, We wanted to be footballers and that dream was taken from us."
When asked by Piers Morgan whether this could be the "Jimmy Savile of football" he replied, "It's potentially worse than that."
A new hotline for footballers who have been the victims of sexual abuse has been launched by the NSPCC. The hotline will be available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642. You can also visit the following: