The 560 potential victims of abuse in football just the 'tip of the iceberg'

Steve Walters fears the 560 potential victims of abuse in football that have come forward so far are just the “tip of the iceberg”.

The Buckley man, who played for several North Wales clubs including Rhyl, Airbus is a director of the Offside Trust, which he set up to help players who claim they were victims of abusers working within the game.

Mr Walters himself claims he was abused as a youngster and insists that it still goes on and more needs to be done to stop the predators.

He again called on the Football Association of Wales (FAW) to follow the rest of the UK and Europe’s soccer governing bodies and launch its own inquiry into allegations of historic abuse.

Mr Walters spoke to the Daily Post today at Wrexham’s Stepping Stones counselling service which helps victims of abuse.

Last week, disturbing police figures showed there were more than 250 suspects and hundreds of victims – the vast majority male – identified by officers as they investigate allegations of abuse in football across the UK, spanning all tiers of the game.

‘There will be more and more coming forward’

In North Wales alone, police have received around 40 allegations of alleged abuse of children within sporting organisations since 2016.

Mr Walters said: “When we first came forward back in November we did not think for a minute the figures would be like what they are.

“Last week was 560, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

‘Abusers never go away..’

“Myself and Chris Unsworth of the Offside Trust have had over 100 victims come forward to us alone and we can see the magnitude of the problem.

“There will be more and more coming forward.”

Mr Walters, who coached Buckley Town, added: “There is still abuse in football. Abusers never go away, and that’s never going to change.

“They have changed their ways and means now, but we need to raise the awareness amongst all the parents and all the sports clubs.

“Safeguarding has improved dramatically, within the last 10 years especially, but it’s never going to go away.”

The former footballer co-founded the Offside Trust to help other victims of sexual abuse at football clubs.

FAW ‘not doing enough’

Again urging the FAW to launch its own inquiry, Mr Walters said: “I don’t think the FAW are doing enough.

“Every football association around Europe has launched their own investigation, other then the FAW, so I think they have an obligation to launch their own investigation as soon as possible.

“They owe it to all the victims and we want to eradicate all the abusers that may still be out there.”

When approached by the Daily Post for a comment, FAW chiefs said they were committed to highlighting the issue and offering guidance to possible victims on how to report allegations and seek support.