24th Jul 2017

Allegations surface about Sexual Abuse at a Premiership football club

Bob Higgins was a coach at Southampton’s junior teams in the 1980s.  He went onto work with Peterborough United’s youth-team manager from May 1995 to April 1996.  Higgins also ran his own youth soccer school.  Until recently Higgins was still involved in football, albeit working with adults at Fleet Town FC.

However, 23 boys have come forward and made complaints to the police about Higgins behaviour.  An investigation began last year.  It is alleged that Higgins indecently assaulted boys aged under the age of 17 on at least 63 occasions between 1970 and 1996 and attempted to indecently assaults a boy aged under 16 between 1979 and 1983. 

The former Southampton youth coach Bob Higgins has appeared before Southampton magistrates and charged with 65 sexual offences against boys as young as 12.  According to the charges, it is alleged that Higgins touched intimate body parts.  Some of the alleged offences are said to have taken place during massages, in locations including bedrooms, a car and bathroom “in Hampshire and elsewhere”.

Higgins has indicated he will enter not guilty pleas and the case has now been transferred to Winchester Crown Court.  He remains an innocent man until found guilty and Higgins was granted unconditional bail.

Robson Shaw Solicitors are following the case and are already representing a number of young sportsmen and women who have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a sporting coach.  If you are the victim of sexual abuse as a youngster at a football club or indeed a survivor of any sexual abuse whether in a club, school church group and Scout Association please get in touch with Robert Shaw on robert@robsonshaw.uk or on his direct dial, 01392 349 332 for a free confidential and sympathetic no obligation discussion. 

Category: News Updates