A WATFORD FC physio sexually abused 29 teenage boys while working at the club, a report has found.
The Championship side investigated allegations against Phil Edwards, who is thought to have killed himself in 2019 while facing claims he had assaulted a boy.
It has now been revealed that as many as 29 potential victims were contacted by Watford, as well as six members of staff.
The inquiry heard how Edwards was known to some at the Hertfordshire club as “Paedo Phil” and “Feel me up Phil”.
Some 18 of the survivors provided signed accounts of their alleged abuse by Edwards when they were aged between 13 and 15.
Edwards was arrested in June 2019 on suspicion of sexual activity with a child at his Woodside physiotherapy clinic in Watford.
A fortnight later the 60-year-old was found dead at the home where he lived alone, with police suggesting he killed himself.
Another 18 police complaints were filed against him for alleged child sexual offences between 1998 and 2019.
Edwards is believed to have abused players at Watford’s Vicarage Road ground as well as his private clinic and his home in the 1980s and 1990s.
The details have been revealed in a newly-published addition to Clive Sheldon KC’s independent report into child sexual abuse in football.
The inquiry found English football did not do enough to protect children from predatory coaches from 1970 to 2005, cataloguing failings by eight clubs – including Chelsea and Manchester City – to act on concerns.
Watford has now apologised to all victims they contacted, today’s addendum to the report says.
Survivors told of Edwards carrying out unnecessary groin examinations, ordering them to strip naked and squat before he lay alongside them, given boys alcohol and showed them pornography, as well as encouraging them to “perform sexual acts”.
Some also described how “Edwards appeared to enjoy inflicting pain on them and laughed or shouted at them if they cried”.
Watford said they could find no payroll record nor personnel file to “show that Edwards was ever employed” by them, though acknowledged he provided physiotherapy services there and held “a position of influence and access within the club”.
They also said the former members of staff they contacted “all denied any knowledge of the alleged abuse by Edwards”.
One survivor alleged that club legend and former England manager Graham Taylor was told of the accusations against Edwards while he was Watford boss but “nothing was done”.
Two members of staff who allegedly witnessed the conversation have denied doing so and Mr Sheldon accepted Watford’s insistence there was “no corroborating evidence to support that any staff member knew that the alleged abuse by Edwards was taking place”.
He also highlighted the importance of Taylor, who died aged 72 in January 2017, being unable to contribute to the investigation.
Lawyers representing the club reached out-of-court settlements in January with five former youth team players who said Edwards sexually abused them.
In a statement, Watford said: “As a club, Watford FC wishes to apologise to all young people who experienced the behaviour perpetrated by the late Phil Edwards, while holding a position of influence and access within the club.
“We thank the survivors for their courage and dignity in all of their dealings with Watford FC, their patience also which allowed us to both conduct a thorough internal investigation and work with Clive Sheldon KC and his team with regards to their own independent findings.
“We are doing, and will continue to do, everything we can to ensure that the boys, girls, men and women who play for this club – and indeed anyone who works for or with the club – will not have to endure the experiences these young people did.
“Watford FC will continue to champion best practice in relation to the safeguarding and welfare of the people in its charge.
“Further, the input and observations of survivors, based on their experiences, will always be welcome in the future.
“Support remains available for anyone who believes it would be beneficial to them.”
Football’s abuse scandal was exposed in 2016 with allegations about former youth coach Barry Bennell, who is now serving a 34-year prison sentence for sex offences against young boys.
Among the ex-players who came forward to reveal they had been abused by Bennell when youngsters were former Bury and Sheffield United footballer Andy Woodward, the first to speak out, and then ex-England, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool star Paul Stewart.
Former Chelsea youth player Bennell worked for Crewe Alexandra in the 1980s and 1990s and also had links with Manchester City and Stoke City.
The FA said in today’s statement: “We continue to offer support to anyone who has been impacted by non-recent child sexual abuse in football.
“If anyone is ready to come forward at this time, they can do so without waiving their anonymity and there is support in place if they want to access it.
“Abuse can be reported via the NSPCC Helpline on 0800 023 2642 or the police.”
