EXCLUSIVE: Paul Stewart bravely described his ordeal as a child for the first time in our 2016 story. Paul and victims of the football abuse scandal are to be recognised by the FA next week.

An ex-England star is dedicating his life to protecting future generations from child abuse - a decade after the scandal that rocked football.

Ex-Spurs and Liverpool star Paul Stewart bravely described his ordeal as a child for the first time in a Mirror front-page story in November 2016. The Football Association will recognise him and other victims of the football abuse scandal at England's game against Croatia next week.

Paul's courage in speaking out led hundreds to share their experiences for the first time. He has dedicated the past decade to protecting future generations and wants his legacy to be the work which safeguards young stars.

Paul now crisscrosses the country and Europe visiting football clubs, youth organisations, schools, and universities. He has just been at Wembley, Exeter, Rotherham United and Nottingham for meetings after setting up a safeguarding union.

He is executive chairman of the union, and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Salford for his work with student social workers. He was the man behind a new, definitive safeguarding guide to tackle all forms of child abuse - across every sport.

The ex-Blackpool, Man City, and Sunderland midfielder worked with Gary Lineker, rugby league giant Kevin Sinfield, former England and British Lions great Brian Moore, Ryder cup golfer Ian Poulter, and Olympic medallist Marilyn Okoro. The unique 'survivor led' safeguarding course gave parents and coaches vital skills, expertise and knowledge to prevent child abuse across all sports.

He also received the English Football League's Contribution To Football award and spoke of his pride after the FA presented him with the Sir Bobby Charlton Award for his work. He and fellow victims of the scandal will be guests of honour at the England v Croatia game next week.

Paul said: "I became a voice for the people who were victims of abuse as children. It took me a long time to speak out. I spent years thinking about it, going through it in my mind, trying to summon up the courage. But I am so glad that I did. I don't think that I would be here now if I hadn't made that decision."

Paul had kept the abuse he suffered at the hands of his youth coach Frank Roper secret until the Mirror interview in 2016. He added: "It is impossible to live your life like that. It would have killed me." Manchester-based abuser Frank Roper, a junior coach, was convicted of indecent assault on a minor in 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1984.

There was 'no formal mechanism' for Blackpool FC, where he worked as a scout, to obtain his criminal record. It was possible that allegations of abuse may have been made to the Club’s Youth Team Coach, but this 'could not be verified', the FA official report into the scandal found in 2021.

Paul described his childhood ordeal in his moving life story, 'Damaged'.' His new career involves advising youngsters at clubs up and down the country. He can still remember driving the short distance from his home in Blackpool, Lancs, in 2016 to tell his mum Joyce, 87, and dad Bert, who died more than two years ago, about Roper.

The youth coach died in 2005, and never faced justice. Now Paul gives talks to parents, coaches, owners and youngsters about the importance of safeguarding in order to make them aware of the dangers. He said: "So many people come up to me and disclose their own experiences for the first time. That takes real courage. I help them as much as I can."

The FA admitted there was 'no excuse' after Clive Sheldon QC concluded the game's governing body failed to keep youngsters safe at a host of top clubs. Chief executive Mark Bullingham issued a 'heartfelt apology' saying they did not receive the protection they deserved.

The FA's 2021 Independent Report into Child Sexual Abuse in Football covered the period from 1970 to 2005. It concluded no guidance was provided to those working in football on 'child protection matters' even after coaches were taken to court. FA chief Mr Bullingham admitted an investigation should have been launched when allegations first emerged against the notorious Crewe Alexandra scout Barry Bennell in the 1990s. "There's a famous quote that says: ‘For evil to flourish, it simply requires that good people do nothing,’" he said. "There are too many examples of that." The 710-page Sheldon report, commissioned in 2016, reviewed 220 hours of recordings and 10,000 pages of survivor testimony. It paid tribute to survivor Andy Woodward, the first victim to come forward in 2016.