Micky Fallon, one of the former players Bennell has been convicted of abusing, reveals the horrors he endured and asks how Crewe did not realise the coach was a risk when opponents called them ‘The paedophile lads’There is a scar on my cheek that will always be there to remind me about my childhood. Over the years, I’ve got used to it being there, I suppose. But whenever anyone asked how I got that scar I would just say as little as possible and move on swiftly. It was easier that way because, if I said what really happened, that would mean explaining I used to be at Crewe Alexandra. I knew if I said those words I’d have to get my head in a space that took me back to that football club. And from the age of 18, since the day I left that club, I’d shut down that part of my life off and, until now, never wanted to revisit it.The truth is not easy for me to explain. For 32 years, I denied everything. I read the interview with Andy Woodward that opened all this up and for a while I carried on pretending it hadn’t happened to me. Steve Walters, another of my old Crewe mates, was next and, though it hit me like a ton of bricks, I still couldn’t bring myself to admit straight away I was another one. It’s only now, after an awful lot of soul-searching, that I feel strong enough to do it. But it’s tough, really tough. It isn’t easy admitting you were one of Barry Bennell’s boys. Related: Did this special football talent kill himself because of Barry Bennell? Related: Barry Bennell: the predatory Pied Piper who made stars and shattered lives He kept a monkey and there was a puma wandering round the lounge. He’d somehow got this puma wild and tamed it.I’m 46 now and, after all these years of living with a secret, I actually feel better for talking about it Related: Manchester City ‘ignored warnings’ and kept Barry Bennell in youth set-up Continue readingreadfullarticle
