Former MFA development coach Bob Higgins implicated in UK football sex abuse scandal

UK coach was employed between 1992-1994 with the MFA as head development coach

Bob Higgins. Screenshot from The Guardian
Bob Higgins. Screenshot from The Guardian

A former Malta Football Association coach is the latest football coach to be implicated in the sex abuse scandal tarnishing English football, after the BBC has reported that in 1997 more letters were sent to clubs warning them about Bob Higgins.

Higgins was employed with the MFA between 1992 and 1994, after having been cleared of sexual abuse charged in the UK, before his five-contract was rescinded by then MFA president George Abela over new investigations of sexual abuse against him in England. Higgins had already resigned prior to the removal of his contract.

It turns out that the UK Football League had issued a warning to clubs about Bob Higgins, the former Southampton youth coach named in connection with allegations of historical sexual abuse of children, as long ago as 1989, the Guardian reported.

Dated 27 April 1989 and addressed to “the managers of all clubs”, it read: “I understand that you may recently have received a letter from Mr. Bob Higgins, inviting your club to become involved with the above organisation [BHSA].

“The Football Association, Football League and English Schools’ Football Association are opposed to this organisation and I would ask all clubs which might be thinking of becoming involved to give this office the opportunity of appraising them of the situation before taking any steps in this direction.”

Higgins worked with youngsters at Southampton, who are renowned for their youth system, in the 1980s, leaving in April 1989 – the same month as the letter was sent. In 1992 he faced charges of sexual offences against boys but was cleared on the direction of a judge.

At least 18 police forces across Britain are investigating allegations made by 350 alleged victims. The NSPCC said it had received and was processing almost 1,000 reports to a hotline.

Chelsea launched their own inquiry after the former player Gary Johnson revealed he had signed a confidentiality agreement with the club in 2015 in return for £50,000 after he alleged he was abused by the club’s then chief scout, Eddie Heath, in the 1970s.

Higgins joined Peterborough as a youth coach in the mid-90s and later worked as the manager of Bashley FC in Hampshire until he was sacked in 2001. After leaving Bashley, Higgins went on to manage Winchester City briefly and was recently working for the Hampshire club Fleet Town FC on what has been described as an “informal unpaid basis” but has now left.

Over the weekend the BBC said it had spoken to six players who had named Higgins to police. The Hampshire force is understood to be investigating but has refused to confirm this. In 1997 the Channel 4 Dispatches documentary investigated Higgins. It reported that after the court case he became a born again Christian and that he baptised players in his bath at home.