Football's Darkest Secret

[Jakubclaret]

Presumably this private healthcare for supporters should be included in the current cost of their season ticket?

The treatment would be limited to short term mental health problems with an achievable plan of recovery, mental health professionals would be employed by the club counselling anybody affiliated with the club by referral on an appointment only basis, I wasn’t suggesting funding specialist disease treatments such as cancer, it wouldn’t be that expensive to have somebody on site to deal with this, a couple of days a week somebody comes in & deals with the appointments allocated.

[Burnleyareback2]

When watching it I wondered what the response would be on the message board. It’s reassuring to read that everyone’s thoughts are virtually the same.

And to think the football world used to look at Crewe with admiration. Makes me feel sick to think this was part of football.

[XDS]

Nothing but admiration for all those who came forward and gave evidence that put the evil predators behind bars.
I'd like to think the governing bodies in all sports could employ these lads as mentors and use their experience's to help spot any signs of abuse and give any potential victims somebody to confide in.

[Silkyskills1]

And to think the football world used to look at Crewe with admiration. Makes me feel sick to think this was part of football.

Well of course they did. I certainly did. Some excellent footballers within that club that have gone on to better things. We only know what we know or are allowed to know. The notion of 'the silence is deafening' and in this case so damning and damaging has never wrung so true. A horror show in all senses of the word.

[ClaretTony]

And to think the football world used to look at Crewe with admiration. Makes me feel sick to think this was part of football.

I was at a meeting at Crewe around 1988. Gradi spoke at that meeting and referencedyoung players staying at his house. No one in that meeting batted an eyelid.

[Kitch1966]

I was aware that Dario Gradi had young footballers staying over at his house but thought it's a subject that I thought should not be put on this site. Having seen CT's post I just thought I'd mention that this is true about Gradi, good coach but dark secrets I suspect.

[ClaretTony]

I was aware that Dario Gradi had young footballers staying over at his house but thought it's a subject that I thought should not be put on this site. Having seen CT's post I just thought I'd mention that this is true about Gradi, good coach but dark secrets I suspect.

Whatever the reason he’s been banned by the FA since late 2016, no one has ever suggested there was anything untoward at his house. But that was the Crewe culture at the time which must have been a dream come true for Bennell.

[Jakubclaret]

DG was actually investigated & cooperated with the investigation into the abuse Bennell carried out & found to be not guilty into any wrongdoings & completely exonerated, in hindsight if anything some might say or suspect DG should have known something or at the very least picked up on something, but at that time the measure of bennells confidence & the smooth way he actually convinced their own parents he was to be trusted never mind somebody indirectly emotionally involved with the children shouldn’t be understated. You criticise DG you should also criticise the parents, the parents unknowingly signed off permission for the overnight stops DG had no powers to do that.

[ClaretTony]

DG was actually investigated & cooperated with the investigation into the abuse Bennell carried out & found to be not guilty into any wrongdoings & completely exonerated, in hindsight if anything some might say or suspect DG should have known something or at the very least picked up on something, but at that time the measure of bennells confidence & the smooth way he actually convinced their own parents he was to be trusted never mind somebody indirectly emotionally involved with the children shouldn’t be understated. You criticise DG you should also criticise the parents, the parents unknowingly signed off permission for the overnight stops DG had no powers to do that.

I think Gradi's FA ban might relate to his time at Chelsea rather than Crewe

[Jakubclaret]

I think Gradi's FA ban might relate to his time at Chelsea rather than Crewe

Possibly I’m not sure, I didn’t like how BH needed a retrial for the guilty verdicts whilst at Southampton & Peterborough, it was almost like the jury needed to deliver guilty verdicts because 1 of the complainants had unfortunately passed away in the car accident, I’m not suggesting BH should have been found not guilty I’m suggesting guilty verdicts on the 1st trial & no need for a retrial, what substantially & drastically changed from 1 to the other, nothing new seemed to appear from 1 to the other, the overwhelming evidence should have been ample in the first instance.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

8 victims of Barry Bennell have lost their court case against Man City, they tried to hold the club to account but in an odd twist Bennell gave evidence in defence of the club.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-59934051

[Murger]

I don't understand how you could sue a club, for something that happened decades ago. Different owners for starters.

[bobinho]

Just watched the first two…. The third I will watch tomorrow.

Wow. That was a struggle To watch at times, god knows how the victims have managed to get thru it.

[wilks_bfc]

This will be hard to watch, but the BBC filmed a drama on Andy Woodwards story

It’s called “Floodlights” and is being aired next Tuesday on BBC2