Britain shocked by growing football child abuse scandal

Signs are seen at the Crewe Alexandra Football Club ground in Crewe, Britain November 27, 2016. REUTERS/Phil Noble

LONDON (Reuters) - What began as a harrowing account of child abuse suffered by a former professional English soccer player last month has lifted the lid on what could be one of the worst paedophile scandals Britain has ever known.

Andy Woodward, 43, who played in the lower divisions of English soccer, told the Guardian newspaper in an interview two weeks ago how his life had been ruined because he had been molested as a boy by a youth team coach.