5.8
The powerful and inspiring story of Andy Woodward, one of the first footballers to come forward with allegations of sexual abuse in the national game. After being abused by football scout paedophile Barry Bennell.
Gerard Kearns
Andrew Woodward
Jonas Armstrong
Barry Bennell
Morven Christie
Jean Woodward
Steve Edge
Terry Woodward
Max Fletcher
Andrew Woodward (Young)
Neil Bell
DS Haleford
Antony Byrne
Neil Warnock
Avin Shah
Ash Stephenson
Mohammad Sakhi
Ash Stephenson (Young)
Mark Holgate
DC Blakefield
Jessica Baglow
DC Grace
Lauren O'Rourke
DI Arrowcroft
Matthew Hawksley
DS Denmyre
Krissi Bohn
DI Bakewell
Sean Croke
Danny Taylor
Benjamin Oyenuga
Martin Sanusi
Lawton Dickens
Batzy
Frankie Friend
Jobbo
Robert Ashcroft
Club Official
David Loy
Physio
Akib Ahmed
Radio Journalist
Chris Anderson
Chris
Stephen McKay
Football Supporter (uncredited)
Craig Shorrock
Prisoner #6643 (uncredited)
David Vickers
Pub passer-by (uncredited)
Director
Nick Rowland
Writer
Matt Greenhalgh
May 29, 2022
7
This is quite an harrowing story about how a real-life football coach - portrayed well here by Jonas Armstrong - managed to dupe just about everyone for years that he was a reputable and upstanding individual whilst at the same time, was routinely abusing the trust of those around him to prey on the younger boys who thought he offered them a path to escape the drudgery of their day-to-day lives. On the face of it, it is quite astonishing that he got away with it for so long; but this man was clever. Bennell played upon the aspirations of parents and children alike. Not just their desires for fame and success, but for more ordinary things like inclusion, affection, being part of a team. This story focusses on the young Andy Woodward, whom Bennell cleverly manoeuvred into his bed with promises that a successful career could stop his mum from having to work in the local chip shop. There is nothing graphic here - and that makes the efforts more potent. His manipulation was psychological and he even comes out with the immortal line "you didn't say no!" which though possibly true, is anything but the point. No amount of rules and regulation can ever prevent clever people like this from prevailing simply because it is the honest trust and integrity that exists in most of us that allows people that perpetrate this predatory behaviour to thrive. If we can't see any flaws, then we don't know to look for them - and these young lads were the unwilling victims not of indifference, but of cleverness and shame! The drama is measured, the dialogue poignant and the performances convincing - especially towards the end. This is well worth a watch.