Former Crewe coach Barry Bennell is rushed to hospital after string of child abuse allegations

Convicted paedophile and former football coach Barry Bennell has been rushed to hospital by ambulance after more former players came forward with sexual abuse allegations against him.

The ex-Crewe Alexandra coach was found unconscious at an address in Stevenage on Friday night at 11pm before Paramedics treated him and took him to hospital, where he remains. The details of his condition have not been released. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Police officers attended an address in Knebworth Park, Stevenage just before 11pm on Friday in connection with a fear for welfare incident. "A 62-year-old man was located and was taken to hospital in order to receive medical treatment, where he remains. "At this stage of enquiries, it would be inappropriate to comment further. A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service added: “We received a call on Friday at 10.50pm to reports of an unconscious man on Knebworth Park in Stevenage to which we sent an ambulance crew to. "The crew arrived within eight minutes to treat the man, believed to be in his 50s, before taking him to Lister Hospital for further care.” Bennell is the man at the centre of shocking abuse revelations that have emerged in the past week. https://twitter.com/danroan/status/801482193424044033 Several footballers have come forward with claims about former Crewe coach, with Chris Unsworth and Jason Dunford the latest to speak out. Former Crewe players Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, as well as ex-Manchester City player David White and ex-Tottenham and Liverpool star Paul Stewart have told their stories of abuse. And Robbie Savage, who was spotted by Bennell as a young footballer and made his professional debut with Crewe, has praised the bravery of those who have opened up about their experiences in the past. “The people who have come out this week and talked about what’s happened have been so courageous,” Savage told the Daily Mirror.

“It was Barry Bennell who first spotted the potential in me and sent me on trial to Crewe, but I was one of the lucky ones – I wasn’t targeted by him. “But everyone in football now has to deal with what happened. The FA and the PFA need a full inquiry, 100%, no stone unturned.

The NSPCC has launched a dedicated football hotline after several ex-footballers followed the lead of Andy Woodward in speaking out. It is available 24 hours a day and can be reached on 0800 023 2642.