FORMER Scotland and Ipswich Town striker Alan Brazil has revealed he was a victim of the child abuse scandal rocking football – being targeted as a 13-year-old prodigy at Celtic Boys Club.
The crimes have been brought into the public eye after former Crewe player Andy Woodward waived his right to anonymity to describe his abuse at the hands of prolific paedophile Barry Bennell.
Since Woodward’s interview with the Guardian, David White and Steve Walters have revealed they were sexually abused by Bennell.
Brazil has spoken before about his treatment at the hands of James Torbett, the millionaire founder of youth football club Celtic Boys Club.
The allegations Brazil made were heard at the Glasgow Sheriff Court in 1998, where Torbett was found guilty of shameless and indecent conduct with three juvenile players between October 1967 and March 1974.
The tactics of Alan’s abuser were sickeningly similar to the stories now coming out, such as Torbett would take kids for hamburgers after training, offer lifts in his car, invite groups of boys to his home and shower them with ice creams and toys – similar to sick Bennell.
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Brazil said: “He knew that I had vowed to kill him if I ever saw him again. And I swear I still would to this day.
“It scarred me for decades and may have prevented me from playing for the team I had loved all my life, Celtic.
“In fact he was a dirty little pervert who preyed on me and other boys whose confidence he’d gained.
“Many years later I nailed him in a courtroom.
“But, though that was some retribution, I knew I would never be able to expunge my hatred for him.
“While he is alive, the shadow that has blighted my life will still be there.”
It comes as former Crewe and Liverpool star Danny Murphy said he is not surprised all this has come out.
He said: “Probably the saddest thing is that I’m not shocked by what has come out.
“I think we always suspected there was lots that had not been said.
“He was a really good coach, good sessions. There’s no doubt he was charismatic, had the chat.
“And he had the skills, a decent footballer, which is always going to impress kids coming through.
“People say, ‘Was it common knowledge?’ but that’s hard to say when you are 13, 14.
“There were little whispers, but when you are young you are just so preoccupied with your own career. You don’t take it seriously.”
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