Bennell and Gary Speed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42623499

There is a suspicion that Gary might have been one of Bennell's victims. As a young man, Speed apparently spent a weekend at Bennell's house when he was coaching/talent spotting in the area as many other promising starlets did.
 Speed's father has spoken briefly  about the possibility and wonders if it might have been an issue in what was otherwise an unexplained suicide.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiI8si50cvYAhVEJMAKHR9NDTwQFgg8MAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mirror.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-news%2Ftragic-gary-speed-stayed-paedophile-9349710&usg=AOvVaw2dxO2y4uOycqenfKDZn9f5

Not just Gary Speed. Alan Davies who played for United was another who was coached by Bennell. He also committed suicide. That evil bastard Bennell has a lot to answer for.

STATEMENT: On behalf of Gary Speed’s family. #LMA #SSN

There was a programme on channel 4 last night about Bennell and one of the abused men said categorically that Speed was abused as he was in the same bed as him when it happened.

The programme also said that 2 of the high profile footballers who were the first to come forward had actually written letters supporting Bennell back in the 90's. It just shows how much they wanted to hide this away and not admit it happened so it's plausible to believe Speed just didn't want to admit anything had happened. It would explain a lot about why he took his own life as well.

Whatever the eventual outcome, I think it would be best if the press did as the family requested, and let it rest. Its much more than a headline to them.
Seemingly, another 86 have now put in reports of his actions.

Obviously everyone would want to respect Speed's parents' wishes.

However, it beggars belief, knowing what we know now, that Gary evidently spent at least one weekend at Bennell's house and did not, at the very least, become the victim of approaches by him. 

I witnessed mild sexual abuse in my first year at senior school. When the boy committed suicide much later, I felt I should report what I had seen to the police, who then interviewed the PE and junior school teacher involved, and, in their words, put the fear of God into him, but did not have enough to charge him. 

This teacher left his job and became a physio (a related profession??) at Wanderers! The police told me they investigated at the junior and senior school and at BWFC. They kept in touch with me throughout....I was impressed, especially as they had contacted the relevant football-child protection officer based at Wembley Stadium, who also rang me to get further details. I don't think the authorities could have done more, but the teacher denied everything and my memories did not carry enough weight to bring charges, of course. 
It turns out that the boy's brother who went to the same junior and senior school and had the same teacher also apparently committed suicide. The parents had passed away by the time the police investigated.

Guardian article on Bennell.

Grim reading.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/feb/15/barry-bennell-abuse-manchester-city-crewe

It truly is shocking he got away with it for so long and clubs like Crewe did nothing about it. As you say Sluffy, a grim read.

Thank God things are changing. my Son plays for a local team and i've been roped in as a parent lead (assisting the coaches essentially) and i've had to have a DBS check. Although it's no guarantee as people can slip through the net, a lot more emphasis is placed on safeguarding so lets hope none of these types of incidents ever happen again.

Fortunately Bennell has throat cancer and has had part of his tongue removed. Kharma.

Bennell just sentenced to 31 years, although he will only serve half (if he lives that long, lets hope not) and then the other half on license.

Dario Gradi and the board at Crewe,must be put under the microscope.

boltonbonce wrote:Dario Gradi and the board at Crewe,must be put under the microscope.

Especially as a former board member has stated that the problem had been presented to them

I've been very disappointed with Crewe and their constant denials, they knew what was going on for sure. For a club that has built it's reputation on developing youth it must be hard to admit it but they keep burying their heads in the sand. I wouldn't let my Son go to Crewe if he ever got scouted just on principle alone now.

boltonbonce wrote:Dario Gradi and the board at Crewe,must be put under the microscope.

Especially as one of the former directors of Crewe claimed they had a board meeting about Bennell's conduct in 1990 and that Gradi was present during the meeting.