Position of Trust

By: Andy Woodward

Narrated by: Mark Hadfield

Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

A brave and moving account by football's first whistle blower, breaking the silence on the scandal of sexual abuse in youth clubs and junior teams.

Andy Woodward was a wide-eyed, hopeful footballer playing for Stockport Boys when Barry Bennell first noticed him. Andy was 11 years old and Bennell a youth coach with a big reputation for spotting and nurturing young footballing talent.    

The clubs Bennell worked for and the parents of the boys he coached trusted and believed in him, inviting him into their lives and their homes.  

But behind the charismatic mask was a profoundly evil man willing to go to any lengths to satisfy his own dark appetites.   

Andy has been heralded a hero for speaking up about his horrific experiences at the hands of Bennell, but also at going further to expose the long hidden abuse buried within our nations' best loved sport.   

His story is only the tip of the iceberg.  

Andy's childhood was shattered by what happened to him and by the fear and silence that surrounded it. His youthful dreams of playing the game he loved were utterly broken, and years of living with the terrible secret and shame all but destroyed him. 

He hopes that by coming forward he might encourage others in similar situations to find the courage to speak out.   

A compelling and relevant story of the dark secret at the heart of football and another chapter in the ongoing expose of institutionalised corruption.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Andy Woodward (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

MUST READ!!

Finished it front to back in 2 days. Absolutely phenomenal story, through all the heartache and confusion, the resilience shown by Andy is an absolute inspiration! One of the most important books of a generation

A story by a brave man whose childhood was cruelly annihilated by a monster

I believe the depth and honesty within Andy’s book is incredibly brave, as is the strength and courage that he had to survive the monstrous sexual abuse he endured as young child and teenager, especially by being set in a time when the world of football would have been the most cruel and most unforgiving for any innocent young child to be faced when with growing up. My heart goes out to you Andy, and thank you for being so incredibly brave my friend.

Ps. I read a one star review which used the term “excuses” -
clearly, this unsympathetic person does not truly understand what it is to be an survivor of having your childhood so cruelly stolen from you and the devastating and debilitating impact that lasts your entire lifetime.

Heart Breaking

I purchased this book yesterday and finished it today, I could not put it down as I wanted to get to the part when this horrible, horrible man Barry finally got caught and jailed. It was absolutely heart breaking and my heart goes out to all the young boys effected by this, and all other abuse victims, it truly does.

This family has had its fair share of heart break and at times I had to hold back tears. I see the photos of him as a young boy and my heart breaks for him and I cannot believe the things this little innocent boy had to go through .......

I also cannot believe that his parents would let their 10 year old little boy, sleep at the house of a man they had only known for 3 weeks....a grown man and for a whole weekend!!!! Who does that???? Not only that, evey weekend thereafter, school holiday and xmas' too. Its just unbelievable and I cannot believe ANY parent could be ok with that.

Didn't they want to spend time with their Son Andy, see him at Weekends and on School Holidays or even at Christmas!!

Even if Andy begged and pleaded 'Mum, Dad, Please please can I stay....' I cannot believe thay allowed this weekend after weekend, school holiday after school holiday and every xmas' too.

Andy doesn't say that he blames them, but I'm sorry I certainly do. They basically gave him to Barry.

Unbelievable!

As a huge football fan, father and youth coach myself I found this incredibly harrowing at times, disbelief at the evil of Bennell and amazed and inspired by the courage of Andy Woodward.

So worth the read/listen, my heart goes out to all those affected by the subject.

Heart renching but a must read.

Very tough to read/listen at times but i feel it's a must read for most people. Andy has come through what has finished others and his story is a testament to his character and also a fitting epitaph for lots of others like Gary Speed who never got to tell their story. I'm really glad i heard Andy's story.

A fantastic book

A really heartfelt and courageous explanation of a massive issue. This book gives a terrific insight into the previously unspoken issue of historical child abuse in football. I'm sure this book will become a source of inspiration for other survivors.

Very moving

It’s an unbelievable story to tell and shocking to hear, especially from a man who only wanted to play football. The story really opens your eyes towards what a small minority of footballers go through and that abusers can appear anywhere possible.

Fantastic book

An extremely brave and powerful book. Brutally honest and eye opening for what happened to him. He should be proud of what he’s written and how honest he was about his own mistakes.

Heartbreaking Truth

Andy's life destroyed by not only 1 evil man but many others who knew these young boys were in danger & still sit back doing nothing

Absolutely stunning

Andy Woodward has courageously written a personal account of how he was groomed and exploited as a pre/young teen by a notorious sex offender who abused the trust of aspiring young soccer players.

Mark Hadfield's narration brings the book to life so starkly that I found it hard to listen to (and I'm a former child-protection specialist social worker). I am usually disappointed by Audible's narrations; here I was bowled over.

This is an outstanding recording, a harrowing memoir and an essential listen for anyone who cares about the welfare of children. Or, for that matter, anyone who cares about children.