Ex-England star hailed as 'force for good' as he wins the Sir Bobby Charlton award

One of the pioneers of safeguarding children in UK sport has been recognised with a prestigious award. Ex-England star Paul Stewart, 60, has worked to protect young sports stars from abuse up and down the country for the past decade.

He was contacted by countless victims of abuse after he first revealed his own torment in the Mirror in 2016. Since then, his expert training has guided young footballers in Premier League Academies and at all the 72 English Football League's clubs.

The Football Association paid tribute to him as he was named as the winner of the Sir Bobby Charlton award. Paul, a dad-of-three, began his work when we revealed his own harrowing story of horrific abuse by his late coach Frank Roper.

"Sir Bobby was not only one of the best players in the world on the pitch, he was a gentleman off it," said Paul, of Blackpool, Lancs.

"That is why the award means so much to me. Everything about him oozed class, honesty and humility.

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"He is the type of man that I want the children to aspire to when I do this training. My dad Bert, God rest his soul, was a big Man Utd fan so I wish that he could have been here to see this."

The award, confirmed by the FA council, will be presented at Wembley.

Paul told the Mirror: "I was lucky enough to win England caps, score in an FA Cup final and pick up a Golden Boot award. But I think that my safeguarding work will be my legacy; this recognition means more to me than all of the accolades during my playing career.

"The Mirrorhas been with me throughout this journey since I first went public with my ordeal in 2016. It has been nearly 10 years and the FA was in the spotlight then because of the scandal.

"This shows the progress which has been made." Paul, an ex-Man City, Spurs and Liverpool midfielder, was determined to turn his nightmare into 'something positive' for the game he loves.

The‬‭ Hope‬‭ Award,‬‭ named‬‭ after the late young charity volunteer Charlotte‬‭ Hope,‬‭ was awarded to‬‭ Chris‬‭ Brown‬‭,‬‭ for his work with‬‭ Norfolk‬‭ families‬‭ facing‬ terminal‬‭ childhood‬‭ cancer.‬

Debbie‬‭ Hewitt MBE, Chair of‬‭ The Football‬‭ Association‬‭ said:‬‭ “We‬‭ are‬‭ immensely‬‭ proud‬‭ to‬‭ honour‬ Paul Stewart and Chris Brown as the recipients of this year’s Charlton and Hope Awards.‬

"These‬‭ awards‬‭ were‬‭ created‬‭ to‬‭ recognise‬‭ those‬‭ who‬‭ use‬‭ football‬‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ force‬‭ for‬‭ good‬‭‭ and‬‭ both‬‭ Paul‭ and‬‭ Chris‬‭ embody‬‭ that‬‭ spirit‬‭ through‬‭ their‬‭ unwavering‬‭ and‬‭ tireless‬‭ commitment‬‭ every‬‭ day.‬‭

"Their‬ work‬‭ reminds‬‭ us‬‭ that‬‭ the‬‭ power‬‭ of‬‭ football‬‭ extends‬‭ far‬‭ beyond‬‭ the‬‭ pitch,‬‭ making‬‭ a‬‭ lasting‬‭ change‬ where it matters most.‬ We‬‭ are‬‭ deeply‬‭ grateful‬‭ for‬‭ the‬‭ inspiration‬‭ they‬‭ bring‬‭ to‬‭ the‬‭ entire‬‭ football‬‭ community,‬‭ and‬‭ thank‬ them both for their outstanding contributions."

Paul's work to protect young footballers has now spread to other sports. He has the support of Gary Lineker, rugby league giant Kevin Sinfield, ex-England rugby star Brian Moore, Ryder cup golfer Ian Poulter, and Olympic medallist Marilyn Okoro.

He is setting up a union for safeguarding officers to give them rights and advice on a par with the Professional Footballers Association, and the bodies representing managers and referees.

The union will lobby Government for a Safeguarding Act to protect children after his 'Fundamentals' training courses were recognised as the benchmark for the industry. The role has taken him all over this country and abroad, including a recent trip to Poland.

The Mirror told how Paul was targeted as a child by one of the worst offenders in the football abuse scandal, former Blackpool scout Frank Roper, who is now dead.

He courageously spoke out after Andy Woodward first revealed his ordeal at the hands of notorious coach Barry Bennell while he was a young player at Crewe Alexandra.