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Paul Stewart’s brave testimony accelerates football’s fight against abuse and prompts new safeguarding initiatives

Saturday, 15 November 2025 5:04AM UTC

Former England footballer Paul Stewart has shared his childhood abuse story, sparking a wider movement within football and leading to the launch of a dedicated helpline to support victims and ensure their voices are heard.

Former England footballer Paul Stewart has spoken candidly about how going public with his childhood abuse was a decision that ultimately saved his life and empowered many others. Stewart’s willingness to share his harrowing experiences, first revealed in a 2016 interview with the Mirror, marked a turning point in exposing the widespread issue of sexual abuse within football. Since that revelation, hundreds of other victims have come forward to recount their own stories, shedding light on a previously hidden epidemic within the sport.

Stewart, who was honoured at Wembley with the FA’s Sir Bobby Charlton award for services to football, described the deep personal significance of the recognition. For him, the award transcended his career achievements, including his England caps and FA Cup winners' medal. “I was brought up in Wythenshawe and am a Man Utd fan and my dad moreover was a big Sir Bobby Charlton fan, he was one of his heroes,” Stewart said. Reflecting on his football career, he acknowledged how the trauma from childhood abuse had cast a shadow over his enjoyment and mental wellbeing during his playing days. He stressed that the award was not just for him, but for all victims who had found the courage to speak out. “I became a voice for the people who were victims of abuse as children,” he said.

The abuse Stewart endured began around the age of 11, inflicted by a youth football coach named Frank Roper, who threatened harm to Stewart’s family if he spoke out. This prolonged ordeal left Stewart struggling with addiction and self-destructive behaviour during his career, including daily cocaine use by the time he signed for Liverpool in 1992. Speaking to ITV News at the time of his initial disclosure, Stewart explained that these mental scars significantly affected his life and career. His decision to speak publicly was inspired by fellow footballer Andy Woodward’s brave revelation of abuse, which helped galvanise a broader movement of disclosure within the sport.

In subsequent interviews, Stewart voiced concerns that such abuse might still be occurring. He described the grooming process and the specific vulnerabilities present in youth football, where young players are often isolated and highly dependent on adults in positions of power. “The sports environment can be a great preying ground for such abuse,” he explained. He emphasised the ongoing importance of vigilance and safeguarding, especially as new risks evolve with technological advances and the use of AI.

Stewart has since channelled his painful experiences into a career focused on safeguarding young players, working with football clubs across the country to raise awareness and advise parents, coaches, and players on preventing abuse. He highlighted the courageous disclosures he continues to receive from victims, both young and old, and noted the profound impact his speaking out can have. “There are so many people who come up to me and will disclose their own experiences for the first time. That takes real courage so I want to give them the time to do it. And then I help them as much as I can.”

The Football Association recognised Stewart’s contributions alongside coach Chris Brown, who works with families and young players facing childhood cancer, at the same ceremony. FA Chair Debbie Hewitt praised them for using football as a force for good and embodying the spirit of commitment and support.

The revelations of Stewart and others have prompted the FA to finalise plans for a dedicated helpline to support victims of sexual abuse in football. According to the London Evening Standard, this initiative aims to provide guidance, encourage disclosures, and ensure victims receive the help they need. Stewart’s story remains a powerful testament to the importance of speaking out and the change it can inspire, both personally and within the wider football community.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (The Mirror) - Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
^[2] (ITV News) - Paragraphs 4, 5
^[3] (ITV News) - Paragraph 6
^[4] (Sky Sports) - Paragraph 4
^[5] (ESPN) - Paragraph 4
^[6] (The Independent) - Paragraph 4
^[7] (London Evening Standard) - Paragraph 11

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/england-player-paul-stewart-abuse-36247401 - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.itv.com/news/2016-11-23/ex-liverpool-and-spurs-player-stewart-i-was-abused-by-coach-as-a-child - Former England international Paul Stewart has revealed he was sexually assaulted by a football coach during his youth. In an interview with ITV News, Stewart, now 52, disclosed that the abuse began when he was 11 and continued for several years. He recounted how the coach threatened to harm his family if he spoke out, leading to mental scars that contributed to subsequent struggles with alcohol and drugs. Stewart's decision to come forward was inspired by fellow footballer Andy Woodward's disclosure of similar abuse.
https://www.itv.com/news/2016-11-25/paul-stewart-im-almost-sure-football-child-sex-abuse-is-still-happening - In a subsequent interview with ITV's This Morning, Paul Stewart expressed concerns that sexual abuse of young footballers may still be occurring. Reflecting on his own traumatic experiences, he highlighted the grooming process and the threats made by his abuser. Stewart emphasised the importance of speaking out and the challenges victims face in coming forward. He also noted that the sports environment can be a 'great preying ground' for such abuse, given the early age at which children start their careers.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10668509/ex-england-player-paul-stewart-reveals-he-was-sexually-abused-by-youth-coach - Sky Sports reports that former England player Paul Stewart has disclosed he was sexually assaulted by a youth-team coach during his childhood. Stewart, who played for Tottenham and Liverpool, shared that the abuse began before he signed for Blackpool at age 15. He recounted how the coach threatened to harm his family if he spoke out, leading to mental scars that contributed to his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Stewart's decision to speak out was influenced by fellow footballer Andy Woodward's revelation of similar abuse.
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37502097/Message - ESPN reports on Paul Stewart's revelation that he was sexually abused by a football coach during his youth. Stewart, who played for Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool, shared that the abuse began when he was 11 and continued for several years. He recounted how the coach threatened to harm his family if he spoke out, leading to mental scars that contributed to his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Stewart's decision to come forward was inspired by fellow footballer Andy Woodward's disclosure of similar abuse.
https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/news/paul-stewart-sexual-abuse-coach-england-football-four-years-a7433151.html - The Independent reports that former England international Paul Stewart has disclosed he was sexually abused by a youth coach during his childhood. Stewart, who played for Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool, shared that the abuse began when he was 11 and continued for four years. He recounted how the coach threatened to harm his family if he spoke out, leading to mental scars that contributed to his struggles with alcohol and drugs. Stewart's decision to speak out was influenced by fellow footballer Andy Woodward's revelation of similar abuse.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/fa-finalise-plans-for-sex-abuse-helpline-as-paul-stewart-speaks-out-a3402616.html - The London Evening Standard reports on the Football Association's plans to establish a helpline for sexual abuse victims following Paul Stewart's disclosure of his own abuse. Stewart, a former England player, revealed he was sexually assaulted by a youth coach during his childhood. The FA's initiative aims to provide support for victims and encourage others to come forward. Stewart's decision to speak out was influenced by fellow footballer Andy Woodward's revelation of similar abuse, highlighting the need for such support systems.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is based on a press release from The Mirror, dated November 15, 2025. This typically warrants a high freshness score. The content includes updated data but recycles older material from previous disclosures by Paul Stewart. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is November 22, 2016, when Stewart first publicly disclosed his abuse. The high degree of recycled material is noted in the detailed notes.

Football
Child abuse
Safeguarding