Football child sex abuse: David White becomes fourth ex-player to speak out

Former Manchester City star David White has become the fourth ex-footballer to speak publicly about being the victim of child sexual abuse.

The Manchester-born White, now 49, is the third player to claim former Crewe and Manchester City coach Barry Bennell abused him.

Former Tottenham and Liverpool star Paul Stewart has alleged abuse by a different coach during his youth career.

Barry Bennell was jailed for nine years in 1998 after pleading guilty to 23 sexual offences against young boys. Credit: PA

Police have been re-investigating Bennell after ex-footballer Andy Woodward waived his anonymity from an earlier trial to tell The Guardian last week about his abuse.

Talent scout and convicted paedophile Bennell, who worked with several professional and junior clubs in the north west and midlands, sexually abused young boys across three decades dating back to the 1970s.

Woodward's account prompted another former Crewe player, Steve Walters, to tell The Guardian about his alleged abuse by Bennell on Tuesday, before Stewart told the Daily Mirror about his treatment by a different youth coach in the 1970s.

Former Crewe player Andy Woodward became the first ex-professional to speak out. Credit: PA

White said in a statement reported by the BBC that he was among those abused by Bennell.

White's decision to speak out came after Professional Footballers' Association boss Gordon Taylor revealed the number of players to contact the union with similar stories in the last week had reached "double figures".

Former Crewe player Steve Walters claims he was abused by Barry Bennell. Credit: PA

Taylor said the union tried to investigate rumours of inappropriate behaviour by some coaches through its education department, and visited apprentices at clubs, but could not get anybody to speak on the record.

Taylor said that changed in the mid-1990s when Bennell's conviction for raping a British boy at a football camp in the United States came to light.

Following his release in the US, Bennell was convicted at Chester Crown Court of 23 offences against six boys, aged from nine to 15, and was sentenced to nine years in jail.

Former Tottenham and Liverpool player Paul Stewart said he was abused by a different youth coach after claims were made against Barry Bennell. Credit: PA

He was given a third sentence in 2015 when he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing another boy at a camp in Macclesfield in 1980.

Detective Inspector Sarah Hall of Cheshire Police's public protection unit said: "We have been made aware of a number of people who have come forward wishing to speak to the police."

Hall said police were making contact with these individuals, no arrests have been made and no one else is under investigation.

She also urged anybody else who has been a victim, "no matter how long ago", to contact police on 101.