Andy Woodwards Abusing Coach – Pedophile football coach Barry Bennell had used his position to abuse more than dozens of young boys. His story is covered in the BBC drama Floodlights.
Barry Bennell is a retired British football coach and scout. He has been registered as a pedophile for sexually abusing eight underaged footballers more than three-decade ago.
The BBC drama Floodlights has covered the story of Bennell, who also sexually abused one of his players, Andy Woodwards. The show aired on BBC2 on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Andy Woodwards Abusing Coach: Who Is Barry Bennell?
Bennell is a former footballer and a youth coach who abused numerous young players, including Andy Woodwards. The convicted pedophile led the football teams of the UK clubs between 1979 and 1990. Before moving to management, he played for Chelsea.
He played most of his games under the short name “Richard Jones”. As a coach, he was first employed by the Crewe Alexandra Football Club, a small-town football club popular for guiding young football players. In no time, he was recognized as the best youth coach in the country.
Man suing Manchester City tells court Barry Bennell 'did have clear role' at clubhttps://t.co/sGbqLUOL8e pic.twitter.com/V5MDnyZ2H1
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) October 27, 2021
Bennell also had a close association with Manchester City FC, Stock City, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, etc.
The football coach was also part of a Channel 4 program, Soccer’s Foul Play, aired in 1997.
BBC Floodlights: Barry Bennell Was Involved In Abuse Of Many Young Players
Bennell had abused many young boys of his football club as a coach. However, his first allegation in football began to surface in the year 2016.
The football coach and scout had links with many big clubs. He was described as a “pied piper” who repeatedly abused boys while promising to further their careers.
In 1994, Bennell was charged with assaulting a 14-year-old British boy in Jacksonville, Florida. Back, then he was on a trip with young footballers aged below 14. He was arrested and sentenced to four years in prison after the abuse report.
Footballer Andy Woodward spoke out in 2016 about the sexual abuse he had suffered as a youth player under coach Barry Bennell.
His fight for justice has inspired a new @BBCTwo drama and he tells #BBCBreakfast what he is hoping the film will achieve. https://t.co/GF541PQdpq pic.twitter.com/29opoSmUd4
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) May 13, 2022
According to the BBC, Bennell had abused Ian Ackley, an ex-footballer, up to 100 times. The victim had exclusively revealed the incident in an interview with the Times in 2016.
The biggest revelation, however, was provided by Andy Woodward, an ex-Crewe, Sheffield United, and Bury footballer. He told The Times, that he was scouted by Bennell at the age of 11, while he was training for Stockport Boys.
Woodward stated that he was among the hundred boys scouted by Bennell. He had suffered sexual abuse for more than four years.
Some other players who came public about the incident were Steve Walters, Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford. Subsequently, the allegations prompted more than dozens of police investigations.
Where Is Barry Bennell Now? Is He In Jail?
Bennell was convicted of 52 child sex offenses in the year 2018. He was sentenced to 31 years of prison for his shameful act.
As of 2022, Bennell is 68 years of age. He will be eligible for a release in the year 2049.
