Club statement regarding Barry Bennell's conviction

This dispatches programme is awful. Good insightful documentary but the dirty bastards at Crewe should be ashamed.
 
Alleged abuse of boys on Maine Rd pitch while sunbathing,painful watching this programme to hear of the suffering at the hands of this coward.
 
geoff clipp said:
I think we agree on more things than we disagree on in respect to this. It's a pretty highly charged subject and people will have strong thoughts relative to their own views and experience. All in all, yes, times were different then, things were swept under the carpet, but should anything come to light now in any organisation then I think think it's ok to admit there was a major fuck up and acknowledge their part in any failings.

Of course he'd have gone and found another way of getting what he wanted. That wasnt under our control. What he did on our premises, the access we helped him obtain to his victims and the prestige we offered him via association with City WAS under the club's control though, so City do shoulder some, not all, but some responsibility. I'll also repeat here, i doubt there's a single high profile football club that wouldn't find similar failings on their own part. City's investigation seems to have unearthed this completely unrelated John Broome guy whose actions may not have been otherwise uncovered. I hope other clubs launch similar investigations, because I'm sure there are people they've all worked with in the past that got have gotten away with all sorts and there are survivors who might benefit from any help that can be offered now.

Now is not the time for distancing the club from the allegations and nor should it be seen as an opportunity for other clubs to take the moral high ground. I'm sure they're all in it up to their necks and it's time they all investigate fully.
Click to expand...
I think we're pretty much on the same page. I think the only area where we were apart to any degree is what we meant by taking responsibility. Nothing I can disagree with in your post here.
 
3996a68f100eefa3017561591193b999.jpg
 
That wasn't pleasent viewing, when I read Paul Stewarts book I think I probably cried more than I ever have, i'm very lucky to have never experienced a situation like this but it must have been rife, how many lives have been ruined by monsters like this?
 
This is from an age where kids were still “seen and not heard” and just either ignored, or accused of “fantasy” everybody of a similar age to the victims, know someone who has been a victim of some kind of abuse from those in a position of power.
I was physically assaulted by a teacher on several occasions, ritually humiliated in front of my classmates, and I count myself as being lucky. My younger sister was invited back for “extra lessons “at a deputy heads house, my parents thankfully refused, said teacher was a child abuser, and served time.
My brother is good friends with one of Bennell’s victims, and featured in the Dispatches doc tonight, he is a wreck at the moment.
This is the tip of the iceberg, and a sad indictment of that era, I hope the shit truly hits the fan.
 
One other thing I have learnt from the Dispatches Prgramme is that several off the victims were City fans (at least two amongst the people referred to in this programme alone).
 
I know one of the lads and nobody knew about this until he went on TV. A great lad and so brave to make this public. The pain he must have gone through and the secrets kept. I suggest Bennell will not last long in prison. Hope he suffers beyond belief
 
All of this reminds me of when I was a young teenager in school and we used to laugh about certain Christian Brother teachers who liked to do the rub downs after sports or who had reputations for being touchy feely - especially towards particular boys. We were so innocent that even as we laughed about this I'm not sure any of us really acknowledged it's true nature. It just seemed harmless (if that makes any sense).

But years later one brother in particular was charged and found guilty of terrible crimes against kids in our school in those years. It's highly probable that some of the victims were in amongst us kids as we'd gossip and laugh about if all. It must have been horrible for them. Those people must have suffered so much right through their life and I feel so sorry for them.

For most of us the 70s/80s were glorious times to grow up in. When all these stories came out you realized that we were the lucky ones - to maintain our innocence so long.

The good thing is that there's more protection for kids today as a result of all of these cases. But even today you'd worry about your own.
 
Bewar3them00n said:
This is from an age where kids were still “seen and not heard” and just either ignored, or accused of “fantasy” everybody of a similar age to the victims, know someone who has been a victim of some kind of abuse from those in a position of power.
I was physically assaulted by a teacher on several occasions, ritually humiliated in front of my classmates, and I count myself as being lucky. My younger sister was invited back for “extra lessons “at a deputy heads house, my parents thankfully refused, said teacher was a child abuser, and served time.
My brother is good friends with one of Bennell’s victims, and featured in the Dispatches doc tonight, he is a wreck at the moment.
This is the tip of the iceberg, and a sad indictment of that era, I hope the shit truly hits the fan.
Click to expand...
Good post.

I agree entirely. I want no stone unturned to give the victims the justice as well as the support they need.
 
Just watched the despatches programme and it was a tough watch. As others have said a lot was different back then. Kids were beaten st school with canes, plimsolls and three tailed leather straps, often on a whim and nobody questioned a teacher. There was definitely some who took a sadistic/sexual pleasure out of doing so. Parents back then trusted figures of authority. Doctors, MP's, teachers were God like figures who knew best.

My heart goes out to anyone who has suffered abuse. I bet there are a fair few people out there complicit in such sleeping a little more uneasily tonight, I hope karma finds them.
 
That was a difficult watch, and so chilling that this evidence has been swept under the carpet, like some dirty little secret.i really hope City go far beyond just accepting a responsibility, but become leaders in setting in place procedures to look after our kids. City have a tendency of letting the football do the talking, but I hope this time they are seen to be very vocal, the FA sure as fuck aren't going to be
 
geoff clipp said:
He abused two boys on the pitch at Maine Road. There has to be some ownership at City that that was allowed to happen.
Click to expand...
Well it wasn't at half time was it? It's like blaming British Rail for someone getting molested on a train.

Puzzled too about City being sued. Did any victims of Rolf Harris or Savile sue the BBC? (Obviously Savile is dead so that is a no to him)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top