Paedophile football coach rushed to hospital

Bennell, a former youth coach who worked for Crewe, Manchester City, Stoke and a number of junior teams in north-west England and the midlands, was given a four-year sentence for raping a British boy on a football tour of Florida in 1994 and then a nine-year sentence in 1998 for 23 offences against six boys in England.

Victim Andy Woodward, who was a youth team player at Crewe and played at Sheffield United later in his career, waived his right to anonymity earlier this month to speak about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Bennell, which has led to a number of other former footballers coming forward to make further allegations of abuse.

A statement from Thames Valley Police said: "Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage, just before 11pm on Friday, November 25 in connection with a fear for welfare incident.

"A 62-year-old man was located and was taken to hospital in order to receive medical treatment, where he remains.

"At this stage of enquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Bennell was reportedly found unconscious and not breathing at the Novotel Hotel in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

He moved out of his home in Milton Keynes after a number of footballers came forward to report abuse when they were younger.