London (CNN)Wayne
Rooney has become the first star player to urge victims of past child
abuse in the world of football not to suffer in silence.
The
England captain spoke out after a hotline was set up for people who
were sexually abused while playing soccer in Britain as children.
It received more than 50 calls in its first few hours Thursday, according to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
Wayne Rooney has spoken out in support of victims.
"It's awful that some of my colleagues
have suffered this way whilst playing the sport that I and they love,"
said Rooney, an ambassador for the NSPCC.
The
hotline was launched with the support of England's Football Association
(FA), after former English footballers Andy Woodward, Steve Walters and
Paul Stewart spoke to British media about being sexually abused as
children. Another player, David White, has also come forward.
"Andy has been really brave to come
forward and I would encourage anyone who has or is suffering from abuse
to call the NSPCC's new football helpline."
"It's
important that people know that it's okay to speak out, there is help
available and that they don't need to suffer in silence," he added.
Cheshire Police, in northern England,
said Friday they had received a "growing number of disclosures" relating
to "non-recent child sexual abuse linked to football."
"These have included allegations made against more than one individual," police said in a statement.
On Friday, two more players -- Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford -- both spoke publicly for the first time about being abused by former Crewe Alexandra coach Barry Bennell.
In
a separate development, police in Hampshire, southern England, also
confirmed they are investigating "allegations of non-recent child abuse
within the football community."
In
another investigation, Northumbria police confirmed to CNN that the
department had "received a report in relation to an allegation of
historic sexual offenses in Newcastle."
A statement added: "We are working closely with, and supporting, the victim and inquiries are ongoing."
Coach jailed for abuse
Former Sheffield United player Woodward was the first to tell his story publicly, explaining how he was abused by Bennell while playing for Crewe Alexandra football club, in northern England in the 1980s and 1990s.
Bennell was jailed in 1998 for nine years after admitting to sexually abusing children, including Woodward.
He
has been jailed three times for child abuse -- including once in
America where he was reportedly described by Florida police as having
"almost an insatiable appetite" for young boys.
He was sent to prison most recently in 2015 for two years for a past sexual offense against a 12-year-old boy.
Former England and Manchester City player White and ex-Crewe player Walters have also revealed they were among Bennell's victims, though it is unclear whether Bennell was convicted of abusing them.
Stewart, who played for Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, said another coach had repeatedly sexually assaulted him and threatened to kill his family if he spoke out.
Woodward's and Walters' Twitter accounts have been flooded with support
in recent days. "This momentum WILL save people," Woodward wrote.
Walters said he was "totally taken back" by the support he had received
since opening up about the abuse he suffered.
More come forward
On Friday, more victims came forward to tell their own stories of torment.
Chris Unsworth, now 44, was a youth team player at Manchester City before moving to Crewe with Bennell.
He
told the BBC that he had stayed at Bennell's house on a number of
occasions where the coach would have two or three boys in the bed at
once while abusing them.
"We never spoke to each other about it,"
Unsworth, who said he was nine when the abuse started, told the BBC. "I
was raped between 50 and 100 times."
"I
didn't know what was going on to be fair -- I knew what I wanted to
get, and I thought this is what I had to go through. I knew it was wrong
but I just went with it," he said.
Manchester City said it had opened an investigation amid allegations that Bennell had an association with the club in the 1980s.
Jason Dunford has also spoken out, alleging that Bennell attempted to touch him while he was in bed at a holiday camp.
"I
told him to get off me," he told the BBC. "After that, Bennell began to
torment me -- dropping me from the team, telling me I would play, but
on the Sunday dropping me again."
Neither Unsworth nor Dunford went on to play professionally, citing the abuse they suffered as one of the main reasons.
Authorities react
Meanwhile, English Football Association
chairman Greg Clarke says he has written to 30,000 football clubs to
help raise awareness on the subject and says his organization will do
everything in its power to support any criminal investigation.
Clarke met with Woodward at Wembley on Thursday to discuss the situation and what can be done about it.
According to the FA, 55,000 criminal
records checks are carried out across the game each season, to screen
out anyone who seeks to work in football who may pose a risk of harm.
Clarke
said 8,500 people have been checked and trained as designated
safeguarding officers in the professional game and grassroots football.
The FA says 35,000 coaches and referees attend The FA's safeguarding children awareness course each season.
'Safe haven' needed
In a statement appealing for others
affected by child abuse in the sport to come forward, the NSPCC said
boys were less likely to speak up about sexual abuse.
"Football
locker rooms and clubs are traditionally very masculine and male
environments. This means it can be difficult for players to talk about
issues such as sexuality or abuse.
"But
it's crucial they speak out. Along with the FA, we're urging players
and others involved in football, from those just starting out to Premier
League, to [use] our helpline," the charity said.
Detective Inspector Sarah Hall of
Cheshire Police's public protection unit told the Press Association
Wednesday that "we have now been made aware of a number of people who
have come forward wishing to speak to the police" with similar claims.
She said no arrests had been made so far.
Gordon
Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association,
said it was a "timely warning for everybody in football about our duty
of care to these youngsters" and that he wanted the union to be a "safe
haven," the Press Association reported.
