Former Chesterfield player goes public with sex abuse allegations

A former Chesterfield FC player has become the latest former professional to say he was sexually abused as a young footballer.
Mark Williams (leaping) heads the ball for Chesterfield FC.Mark Williams (leaping) heads the ball for Chesterfield FC.
Mark Williams (leaping) heads the ball for Chesterfield FC.

Mark Williams - who played for the Spireites in the late 1990s - told Sky News he was ‘touched inappropriately’ twice, once when he was 11 and again when he was 14.

As well as playing for Chesterfield, Williams also played 36 times for Northern Ireland in a career that also included spells at Shrewsbury and Watford.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I was touched inappropriately in the genital area on both occasions and luckily for me it didn’t go any further than that.

“My life has been affected irreversibly both personally and professionally and it has been soul destroying to carry this burden for 30 years.”

The allegations come after a week in which 20 former footballers have alleged they were sexually abused when starting out in the game.

In total, nine police forces are now investigating allegations of historical sexual abuse within the sport.

•Former Crewe Alexandra youth team coach Barry Bennell was yesterday charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy aged under 14.