Many other footballers have told Carroll that they are sexual assault survivors

Andy Carroll has revealed that 'well-known footballers' have contacted him to say they are also survivors of sexual assault. Ex-Premier League star Carroll opened up on his 'traumatic' attack in his autobiography, Owning It, which was published last month.

The 37-year-old later confirmed that celebrity dance coach Kevin Adams was the man who assaulted him while he slept naked in his own bed in 2021. Adams spent 20 months in jail for the incident.

Appearing on Piers Morgan's Football Uncensored on Monday, Carroll admitted that he 'freaked out' and 'panicked' when his abuser's identity was revealed to the public. But the former England striker's brave decision to share his story has helped other victims, including footballers.

"I just didn't know what to do. But the social media comments I've been receiving, it's given me a bit of support to say, 'yeah go on then, get it out there' and people will be aware of this," Carroll explained.

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"Because no one talks about it. There's actually people that I know really well and have come to me and went 'a similar thing has happened to me'. People in football as well.

"Well-known footballers and I've had a phone call of them, saying, 'thanks'. And for me, putting it in the book, it was the right thing. I must've had hundreds and hundreds of messages."

Carroll, who currently plays for Dagenham and Redbridge, hailed his team-mates and the club's staff for their 'fantastic' support since revealing his ordeal. "I think the most important thing is, for everyone, I've been beating myself up about it. And soon as I've said it, the support I've received has been massive," he added.

The attack happened at Carroll's home during his second spell playing for his boyhood club, Newcastle. After being woken up by Adams, he threw the dance coach outside and 'smacked him unconscious' when he tried to get back in.

Carroll wrote in the book that it 'affected every facet of his life', and the court process was 'humiliating and horrendous'. He made the decision to go public about the incident at the last minute after deep discussions with his current partner, Lou Teasdale.

"I avoided my publisher for so long that they probably suspected I got cold feet," he said. "Scary to talk about but it's made me the person I am today as much as any of the good stuff. And if me talking about it helps just one ­person then good, it will have been worth it."