London - The number of alleged abuse victims of former Chelsea scout Eddie Heath has doubled in a week from three to six, with fears growing that many players from a generation in the Seventies were affected.
It seems increasingly likely that Chelsea could face a multi-million-pound claim for damages from a group action of victims.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that one youngster, viewed in his teens as a great future hope of Stamford Bridge, had his career derailed by Heath’s abuse. The man in his fifties, whose identity we are protecting at his request, broke down at his home as he explained he had never even told his wife and children of his experiences. He is considering now whether to inform the authorities.
Another former Chelsea youth player, Steve Perkins, 62, also told this newspaper he was targeted by Heath, who groped him on ‘numerous occasions’. A further alleged victim of Heath, Russell Davy, has said Heath abused him when the scout went on to work for Charlton.
Those three alleged victims follow in the wake of Gary Johnson, paid £50 000 compensation in 2015 by Chelsea for abuse at the hands Heath; a former youth goalkeeper Derek Richardson; and another victim, now 57, who we reported last week was a victim of Heath and whose parents were asked in 1974 by Crewe director of football Dario Gradi - then a Chelsea coach - to withdraw a formal complaint. Gradi has declined to comment on that allegation.
In addition to the six alleged victims, The Mail on Sunday have been told by another former Chelsea youth player, Richard Wilson, that Heath’s abuse was widespread and well-known at the club in the Seventies. After leaving football, Wilson joined Kent Police, and worked as a detective in child protection.
The MoS are aware of several other Chelsea players believed to have been victims of abuse by Heath, although they remain reticent to speak, confirming only via intermediaries that they don’t want to talk about it, for now.
Johnson has spoken out in the past week to say Chelsea should pay him more than the £50,000 he has received, especially as the club have now admitted that inserting a gag clause in his pay-off was ‘inappropriate’. Chelsea have also admitted they were told about other historical cases at the time of Johnson’s pay-off but did not try to find out about the extent of Heath’s victims.
Chelsea have launched an independent review into historical abuse and also how they handled Johnson’s case. They have advised alleged victims to make reports to the police.
A club spokesman added: ‘We are fully committed to working with all the relevant authorities, including the FA, Premier League and police to fully understand what occurred and support all victims.
‘We are absolutely determined to do the right thing, to fully support those affected and the investigations being carried out.’
The FA have launched their own review into how they handled allegations of abuse. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the governing body are aware they have current and recent former employees - who are or were in senior positions - who may be able to provide useful testimony into historical abuse at various clubs. A spokesman said they cannot comment on specifics.
Wilson, a former Chelsea midfielder who went on to work in child protection, has told the MoS that Heath roamed around Stamford Bridge like ‘a kid in a sweet shop’. Wilson says the scout encouraged boys to play pool and table tennis in ‘his prefabricated pavilion’.
‘Looking back, it was part of the grooming process,’ said Wilson. ‘He never touched me, but Eddie enjoyed the perfect conditions to prey on boys.’
A Mail on Sunday investigation has found that Heath, who died in 1983 aged 54, systematically targeted boys based on their background, particularly befriending those from unsettled homes.
‘He was always there, in the background at training, pacing up and down the touchline in his raincoat,’ said Wilson. ‘If like me you were picked up by your mum or dad afterwards, Eddie would leave you alone. He was clever, manipulative, and would go for the more vulnerable boys and was like a father figure to them.
‘I was best friends with Gary Johnson but I didn’t know anything about the abuse. We would play golf together and socialise but 15 years ago he became a kind of recluse. No one heard a thing from him. But it all fits into place now.’
Perkins said Heath flicked his private parts and grabbed his buttocks, as well as those of other players, when they were as young as 14. ‘Most of the lads were aware if they didn’t keep a wide berth of him they would be getting grabbed,’ he said.
Perkins said he never told his parents or Chelsea staff about Heath’s behaviour and does not know if any other players complained. ‘They [the club’s management] would have laughed at us,’ he said.
‘There was nothing any of us could have done about it. We were too polite for our own good really. Is that because we were young? Is that because you’re looking for a contract?
‘You are vulnerable. You think to yourself, what can I do? Who do I go to see here?’