Wednesday 23 November 2016 13:04, UK
Former Tottenham and Liverpool midfielder Paul Stewart is the latest ex-player to reveal he was sexually assaulted by a youth-team coach as a child.
Stewart, who won three caps for England, has told the Daily Mirror he was attacked by a coach before he signed for his first club Blackpool when he was 15.
Stewart is now 52 and has battled addictions to alcohol and drugs as he struggled to come to terms with the abuse.
He decided to break his silence after Andy Woodward revealed he was abused by another former coach - Barry Bennell - between the ages of 11 and 15. The former Crewe coach was jailed for nine years in 1998 after admitting sexual offences against six boys.
Steve Walters became the second ex-Crewe player to speak out on Tuesday about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Bennell in an interview with The Guardian.
The Football Association has set up a helpline for other potential victims.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "This problem has always potentially been with society.
"It is up to every profession to address this, and particularly football because, of course, youngsters are now coming into the academies from as young as five, six and seven.
"Whilst parents are taking them to grounds etc., once they are playing with teams and travelling with teams then they are under the care of senior coaches.For them to exploit that position of responsibility is horrific."
Damian Collins, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has told Sky Sports News HQ his department are following developments 'very closely' involving Crewe Alexandra as it is a 'very serious matter'. No formal government inquiry has been launched at this stage.
Meanwhile, Cheshire Police have revealed its investigation into sexual abuse by Bennell has grown as more people have now come forward wishing to speak to them.
Detective Inspector Sarah Hall of the force's public protection unit said: "As of today, Wednesday 23 November, we have now been made aware of a number of people who have come forward wishing to speak to the police.
"At this stage, we are in the process of making contact with them, and to date no arrests have been made and no one else is under investigation.
"Cheshire Constabulary takes all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously and has specialist trained officers to provide advice and support. We urge anyone who has been a victim, no matter how long ago the incident took place, to contact police on 101."
