Opening up to a friend – The Way Through
Ian talks to fellow survivor and friend, Gary, about his abuse by his football coach as a teenager and how this affected his life, from depression, high anxiety and the use of alcohol and drugs to numb his pain, to finding a way through to a successful career.
Ian Ackley is the head of The Survivor Support Advocate Service at the Professional Footballers’ Association. He was abused by his football coach, Barry Bennell, as a teenager and featured on the BBC documentary, Football’s Darkest Secret, along with other professional footballers who had been abused by Bennell and other coaches.
Gary Pleece is the marketing manager of 1in6uk, football activist with VYD CIC, graphic novelist and a survivor.
