I have read all your comments on this thread and there is indeed a common theme. That on this occasion we should believe the complainants. The implication appears to me that you regard other complainants in other cases as less credible , why is that ?

You seem to be reading 'implications' or 'themes' to what your mind prefers. I've openly said from the very beginning what marks this case out from a Savile type of case is obvious, at least to me but i suspect many more people too. The perpetrator, Bennell, is still alive so can be held to account and every witness so far has given testimony publicly. For me their credibility (if you want to term it that) is beyond doubt.

You never answered my question. Why don't you believe that to be the case?

I would almost always believe the testimony of a child.
It would appear that rather like Saville et al many will come forward. We cannot then doubt them all can we ?
The insidious abuse of children is utterly reprehensible , it has gone on for ever. I applaud anyone who who has the courage to step up. But this is not a new phenomena, others have stepped up before and indeed been decried and belittled for their courage.

With this case we are dealing with testimonies of adults even though the offences occurred when children. Imo all those i've heard up to now have been extremely strong compelling witness accounts. I'm not just listening or even reading about them though, i'm seeing their body language because they are there, in front of me, albeit on a tv screen. They have stepped forward with the courage of their convictions and Bennell is looking at spending the rest of his life in prison. However i also think many serious questions need addressing elsewhere, ie within the hierarchy of the FA.

Trial by media, witch hunts or pitchfork 'justice' has never been something i'm sympathetic to so i am always cautious over allegations of historical sex abuse but the only ones i can think of who've been 'decried and belittled' are those cases later found to be proven false.

The post Savile legacy uncovered a wake of historic sex abuse as he went to the comfort of his grave from which the seeds of Operation Yewtree grew resulting in endless court trials of some notable people. Some undoubtedly guilty as hell (Glitter etc) and rightly imprisoned, some questionable, and others investigated with their lives publicly turned inside out, only for it to be dropped but not after they'd been through the wringer. Of the latter i'm thinking in particular of Paul Gambaccini, Cliff Richard, William Roache, Michael Le Vell. More recently there was "Nick" whose testimony over historical child sex abuse was viewed by Scotland Yard as 'very credible and true'. "Nick" is now being investigated by Scotland Yard for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

No one is doubting the veracity of these victims testimony . Certainly not me. What happenened to them as young boys is heinous abuse. As is all abuse of young children.
There will always be a very few who will pehaps jump on the band wagon for various reasons, it's inevitable. And no doubt this particular investigation will bring forth such people.
Our condemnation of peadophillia should be across the board, from familial , vulnerable , racial and opportunistic.
No one group holds the moral high ground and should be defended more rigourously than any other. Children, all children are vulnerable and need to be protected.

Disgusting comments from Eric Bristow.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...-arent-9354804

I didn't know that a rugby player had been sexually abused too.

Bueller, Bueller...

I wouldn't worry about Bristrow. It's Darts. Something you're supposed to do when drunk in a pub, not make it your profession.

I played for a boys team in the 70s, and we had an old fella as assistant coach who some of the lads said was a nonce. Basil was his name. If you got kicked he'd come tottering onto the pitch with his bucket and sponge, and even if you were in complete agony, you'd make sure you were up and limping away before he could get to you.

Thinking about it, it did speed up the game.

Bennell charged with sex offences http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38150244

"Former football coach Barry Bennell has been charged with eight offences of sex assault against a boy aged under 14, prosecutors have said.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had received a file of evidence from Cheshire Police relating to allegations of historical abuse."

This will just be the beginning with many more to follow. I'm glad Bennell's suicide attempt was unsuccessful.

Me too. Hope he rots behind bars.

I'd like to believe there will be serious questions asked regarding the FA's accountability too though. Of course we didn't have 'duty of care' back then (in the same manner as today) but employers certainly had legal responsibilities. The clubs in question, their management as well as that of FA officials at that specific time, must come under scrutiny.

Too little too late though, damage is done.

Yes i know but there must be some accountability. It's no good brushing this under the carpet. Understandably there will be current employees both in the FA and the clubs who were not around then, but that shouldn't mean their predecessors don't get investigated and asked for explanations.

Eight offences now, and counting.

https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/stat...44386504544256

A seventh police force, Cambridge, has now added to the growing number of investigations.

https://www.channel4.com/news/barry-...d-sex-offences

Agree. Disgusting. That attitude is part of the problem and why it makes it so hard for lads who've gone through something like this, especially in a very masculine arena like football. I don't think it's 'worse' for boys than girls as such - all abuse of this kind is heinous and employs the same sorts of manipulation and involves levels of guilt and shame - but at least in the main there'll be women who support and believe girls who go through this stuff - it's the not being able to tell anyone at all, even your mates, for fear of getting ridiculed by the likes of Bristow, implying that if only you were 'more of a man' it wouldn't happen to you that is so devastating - really sticks in my craw. These guys are so brave for speaking out about it, good on them. Was in tears watching the interview with them the other day. Barry Bennell - may you rot in hell, you sick coward. There are more coming out now too.

Yes, they bloody well should. It seems to me (based on the Guardian article anyway) that some of this at least must've been known about.

Bristow always was a **nt.

Give me Jocky Wilson or John Lowe any day.

The vast majoity of people who coach youngsters are good people but there have always been a few who will abuse their power to explain to some kids what they need to do to get in the team and stay in the team.

These are the people who should now be concentrated on.

Whenever I go past the local footy pitches on a Sunday, the language of some of the parents is enough to make me sometimes think of slapping them and i'm only just walking back from a nice quiet walk to get a few things from the local aldi or lidl. The pressure must be amazing on the kids to perform and thus the need for actual game time.

Didn't some band have a massive hit in the 80's with a song about Jocky Wilson?

It was "Jackie Wilson Said" by Dexy's Midnight Runners. Famously, TOTP mistook "Jackie" for "Jockey "and stuck up a huge picture of the latter by the stage while they were performing the song. I remember watching it as a kid at the time and thinking - mmm, not sure the song is meant to be about him...

Apparently it's a myth that it was a mistake, it was done on purpose at Kevin Rowland's request.

It's only said by morons, trolls and religious loons.