Further to the publication by the FA of the Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in Football 1970 to 2005, led by Mr Clive Sheldon QC, on 17 March 2021, three annexes to that Review remained confidential.

One annex was confidential because it concerned an individual who was involved at the time of publication of the Review in ongoing criminal proceedings. Those proceedings have now concluded. The individual involved, Geoffrey Broome, was convicted of eight counts of indecent assault against minors in April 2021 and given an immediate four-year custodial sentence.

The FA have now published Annex C to the Review which makes reference to the involvement of the Lincolnshire County FA in connection with Mr Broome and his involvement in football in the 1990s and early 2000s. Lincolnshire County FA acknowledges the unacceptable and traumatic abuse that Geoffrey Broome inflicted on the survivors. It shares the view of the FA that these survivors have shown great bravery in reporting the abuse and in giving evidence about what had happened to them.

The FA statement issued after the publication of the Review in March 2021 confirmed that this was a critical moment for English Football. The Review acknowledged that while correct protocols were not in place in the past, our policy standards and practices are now industry leading. The findings of the Review were fully supported and accepted by the FA and steps are underway to implement all of Clive Sheldon’s recommendations as part of a wider safeguarding strategy. Lincolnshire County FA has systems in place to ensure the highest standards in child protection and will continue to work with the FA to ensure that it plays its part in implementing those recommendations and ensuring to the very best of its ability that children and vulnerable adults playing football in Lincolnshire are safe.