Andy Woodward is a gifted young football
defender from
Stockport who attracts the attention of
Barry Bennell. Bennell, who has moved from
Manchester City to
Crewe Alexandra, is regarded as one of the best youth coaches in the game. He convinces Woodward's parents through his charisma and promises the boy to make him rich and lift his family out of poverty. Woodward and other boys stay for a sleepover at the coach's house, which is full of video games and other entertainment. Bennell says that Woodward must sleep with him as there are no other beds. In bed, Bennell initiates a touching game which concludes with the boy touching his genitalia. Bennell continues his cycle of abuse over Woodward by freezing him out the team whenever the boy repels his assaults. In the late 1990s, Woodward is playing well professionally for
Bury under manager
Neil Warnock, when he is approached by police detectives. Bennell is due to return to Britain after serving a sentence for crimes in the United States, and the police see Woodward as a key witness for their investigation. He submits an anonymised report that leads to Bennell being jailed in England. Woodward's mental health deteriorates as a result of the relived trauma, and his professional career unravels. He visits his abuser in prison, speaking of his intention to sue Crewe Alexandra. Bennell says that Woodward is chasing money for his failed career, and that he never complained about the abuse at the time. In the 2010s, Woodward is dismissed from the
Greater Manchester Police for a sexual relationship with a woman for whom he was a
family liaison officer. He reaches out to a childhood teammate on
Facebook to talk about the historical abuse, but when he is added by Bennell under his post-prison alias Richard Jones, he attempts suicide. Woodward contacts
Guardian journalist
Daniel Taylor, wishing to reveal his story anonymously like
The Observers
Secret Footballer. Taylor then convinces him that lives could be saved if Woodward goes public with the story. ==Cast==