Barry Bennell: ‘Demonic' paedophile

Pro footballer victim Andy's heartbreaking account of serial abuse

- TOMMY HOLGATE

WHILE a trainee at Crewe Alexandra Football Club, Andy Woodward was a victim of now infamous abuser, Barry Bennell. He alerted the police in 2016, which led to a long list of footballers coming forward to name Bennell as their abuser.

Bennell was convicted, but one statement of Andy's that sticks out is that you should know there was more than one abuser.

Andy visited the Ickonic studios with his friend and fellow campaigner, Andy Marsh, to appear on Gareth Icke Tonight. Here is an extract from their conversation.

Did you always want to be a footballer? Did you always know that was your path?

Yes, from a very young age. As a young child, I always had a ball under my arm. My dad played football when he was younger, and I watched football with him, and it was my passion from being in primary school; to then get a gig at Crewe, it was pretty prestigious.

How early did the abuse start? Was anything happening that made you think: 'This guy's not right'?

Yeah, it was only within about three or four weeks and the grooming process started, as I didn't know then but I do now, and then he'd just start tipping up at my Mum and Dad's, saying: "Oh, I'm just in the area."