Football child abuse by Ted Langford

I represent a client who was sexually assaulted by Ted Langford when he was a child, through Langford’s role as a football coach and scout for Aston Villa Football Club.

In 2007, Langford was convicted for child abuse offences that took place between 1976 and 1989.  It is understood that during that time, he was working as a football scout for Aston Villa, until they dismissed him in 1988. The convictions at Birmingham Crown Court were secured following admissions of child abuse by Langford, who received a three year prison sentence.

Langford died in 2012.

Since the surge of disclosures regarding child abuse within football in late 2016, a number of men have come forward to report the abuse they suffered at the hands of Langford.  My client is one of these men.

My client feels understandably cheated by Langford’s death because Langford was never questioned about abusing my client, let alone found guilty of the child abuse offences which he committed against my client.  Langford betrayed my client’s trust and due to Langford’s death my client has never obtained the closure that he needs, to be able to properly move on with his life.  He is also angry with Aston Villa as the abuse was raised at the time but was largely ignored.

The culture at the time was not to speak out about child abuse and the organisations who could have stepped in to make a change did not do so, despite the fact that they should have protected the children in their charge.  Only too often do I see survivors who are only able to speak out about the abuse they suffered decades after it took place.

I am now looking for evidence in support of my client’s case because there will be no further police investigation, as a result of Langford’s death.  If you were sexually abused by Ted Langford and are willing to assist my client in his current case by providing a witness statement about Langford and his role as a football coach/scout, please contact me on my direct dial telephone number 020 3411 1960.