Dario Gradi

[WA Toffee]

I have no idea where you got that response from.

perhaps some people are aware of more personal experiences than others? Dismissing "small fish" could be considered very upsetting to some

 

[davids]

In relation to Bennell and all that horror.

This is quite an eye opener - Crewe were known as the peedo club apparently.

Worth a read, if only to see how open the depravity was and how many people knew and did nothing. No criminal accusations toward Gradi it must be said but read and make up your own mind on him.

Thank god I didn't take them up on the offer of a trial,and instead chose Burnley to let me know I was wasting my time,and theirs.

 

[Eggs]

....I came through the system in the early to mid 70s and played representative football and signed for a top flight club. I honestly wasn’t aware of anything going on around that time.

 

[Brisan123]

....I came through the system in the early to mid 70s and played representative football and signed for a top flight club. I honestly wasn’t aware of anything going on around that time.

You were obviously are not seen as vulnerable
They know the kids to target

 

[pedro1976]

I know a lad who's brother was at Crewe around 30 years ago. His brother made it as a player but had to look after himself whilst there... as a big lad and a good player he could handle himself. He couldn't be manipulated.

 

[Rob17896]

I bet there's bigger fish out there in the game past and present who have carried on like that. Very big fish indeed.

Of course, we wont see the crusading journalists of the Guardian footy section go after them.

That seems a strange one, having a go at the Guardian because they are not investigating nobody in particular?

 

[davek]

That seems a strange one, having a go at the Guardian because they are not investigating nobody in particular?

My point is: if there is, they wouldn't.

Say, for example, a big name from the past was there to be investigated and you knew they were a legend to a fan base that thought nothing of destroying someone and/or their family's lives (or taking them), that would be a distinct disincentive that I doubt the Guardian's (or any other 'crusading') football journalists - would care to ignore.

 

[zzr45]

As someone who lives about 10 minutes from Gresty Road and has done for pretty much all my life, I do think there's a LOT of embellishment in that story. Know plenty of lads that went through the academy from the 80's up until a few years ago, can't exactly say it was something that was discussed freely.

Gradi's sexuality has always been known (was football in the 90s ready for an openly gay manager?) as was his devotion to Crewe - hence why he never got offered a job higher up (as well as the fact that he was actually quite a poor manager tactically..).

Overall, there's a lot of 2+2=5 in that article. The fact that safeguarding as it is today didn't exist is mind blowing in this day and age, but it was a different time. Doesn't excuse it, but explains how it went on for so long.

 

[larrygobfiend]

 

[Lanolin]

As someone who lives about 10 minutes from Gresty Road and has done for pretty much all my life, I do think there's a LOT of embellishment in that story. Know plenty of lads that went through the academy from the 80's up until a few years ago, can't exactly say it was something that was discussed freely.

Gradi's sexuality has always been known (was football in the 90s ready for an openly gay manager?) as was his devotion to Crewe - hence why he never got offered a job higher up (as well as the fact that he was actually quite a poor manager tactically..).

Overall, there's a lot of 2+2=5 in that article. The fact that safeguarding as it is today didn't exist is mind blowing in this day and age, but it was a different time. Doesn't excuse it, but explains how it went on for so long.

It definitely was something that was talked about. I remember being shocked when a mate told me about it 10 years ago or so. He worked at the Crewe Chronicle and said it was an open secret, had been for years.

 

[zzr45]

It definitely was something that was talked about. I remember being shocked when a mate told me about it 10 years ago or so. He worked at the Crewe Chronicle and said it was an open secret, had been for years.

Again, I say not something that was discussed freely. Hand on heart I can never say I heard anything about it, but one could suggest that’s down to the stigma of it all especially when it’s being discussed between lads of a similar age.

 

[Rob17896]

My point is: if there is, they wouldn't.

Say, for example, a big name from the past was there to be investigated and you knew they were a legend to a fan base that thought nothing of destroying someone and/or their family's lives (or taking them), that would be a distinct disincentive that I doubt the Guardian's (or any other 'crusading') football journalists - would care to ignore.

Can't agree with you. They have brought down some big figures in entertainment recently (the press) and The Guardian has more balls than most as it is not governed by a big media baron. However ten years ago you would be correct in thinking most papers would think twice, particularly the likes of the tabloids who rely on football coverage a great deal.

 

[davek]

Can't agree with you. They have brought down some big figures in entertainment recently (the press) and The Guardian has more balls than most as it is not governed by a big media baron. However ten years ago you would be correct in thinking most papers would think twice, particularly the likes of the tabloids who rely on football coverage a great deal.

There's too much vested interest in the game for any of the pillars or pivotal figures in its history to ever be looked at seriously. Not that I know of any such case(s) - I'm just saying that if there has been (and there's likely to have been over time) those sleeping dogs would be left to lie. Football is not only a billion pound industry in-and-of-itself, it's also a driver for other sectors and is the cultural lifeblood of the nation. The Royal Family and the upper echelons of football: two institutions that are safe as houses.

Dario Gradi? Low lying fruit.

 

[Rob17896]

There's too much vested interest in the game for any of the pillars or pivotal figures in its history to ever be looked at seriously. Not that I know of any such case(s) - I'm just saying that if there has been (and there's likely to have been over time) those sleeping dogs would be left to lie. Football is not only a billion pound industry in-and-of-itself, it's also a driver for other sectors and is the cultural lifeblood of the nation. The Royal Family and the upper echelons of football: two institutions that are safe as houses.

Dario Gradi? Low lying fruit.

Have not Chelsea had some bad PR over racism (historic) recently?

 

[davek]

Have not Chelsea had some bad PR over racism (historic) recently?

Not with club legends. More low lying fruit.

IMO the football legends are off limits. Can you imagine where the game would be if anything like that came to light?

If anything was there it'd be sat on. Football's worth goes way beyond football.