The west Cumbrian football community has united in its support of Paul Stewart who has spoken out about the abuse he suffered from a youth coach when he was a child.

The former Workington Reds and England footballer said the pervert sexually abused him after pledging to “make him a star”.

Paul – described as the most high profile player ever to play for Workington Reds

– kept the trauma of his horrific child sex abuse ordeal at the hands of a coach hidden from everyone, including his family.

Paul, 52, who also played for Spurs and Liverpool, has now broken his silence to tell how he was targeted by the trainer – in the hope more victims will come forward.

He played for Workington Reds from 1998-2000 and made 55 appearances for the club scoring 15 goals.

He claims he was assaulted every day for four years and that his tormentor got away with it because he threatened to kill his relatives if he ever told anyone.

Football writer and Workington Reds commentator John Walsh remembers Paul well.

He said: “I have much admiration and respect for him after what he has gone through. It’s horrific.

“He was the most high-profile player ever to play for Reds.

“I admire Paul immensely.”

The 52-year-old spoke out after he read about Andy Woodward, 43, who was abused as a young footballer in the 70s and 80s.

And he fears there may be hundreds of other victims as concerns grew a paedophile ring was operating in north west football at the time.

Glenn Heathcote, chairman of Workington Reds, said: “I think it is appalling that this has happened.

“But if players like Paul Stewart can speak out then perhaps it will encourage others to come forward and the perpetrator will get caught.”

Paul, a former striker and midfielder, alleges his own abuse started after the coach befriended his parents.

He told a national newspaper: “One day, travelling in the car, he started to touch me. It frightened me to death. I did not know what to do, I tried to tell my parents not to let him in but I was only 11. From then, it progressed to sexually abusing me.”

Paul, who waived his right to anonymity, claims: “Another lad who was four years older than me told me he was abused. He told me that later when we met as adults.

“The mental scars led me into other problems with drink and drugs.”

The trainer, would also take him to football tournaments, giving him another chance to prey on him. Paul says the sickening assaults robbed him of his childhood as he tried to wipe the past out of his mind in a bid to cope with the trauma in adult life.

Paul said: “I hope it will encourage others to find some kind of closure, to deal with it.

“I want you to help other victims bring these people to justice.

“Whatever walk of life they are in, I hope they are able to come forward.”