VICTIMS of sexual abuse in football have come forward to Sussex Police as the true scale of the nationwide scandal continues to grow.

The force has revealed that it has received six separate reports of historic sexual abuse at football clubs in the county since revelations first broke last month.

Police said the reports relate to six different coaches and none of the reports related to either of the county’s highest-profile teams Brighton and Hove Albion or Crawley Town.

The force and Sussex FA are also encouraging any victims of abuse to come forward.

Former professional footballers including Andy Woodward, Paul Stewart and David White revealed last month they had been victims of sexual abuse from coaches as junior players.

Sussex Police is the latest force to confirm it is investigating such claims alongside 21 others.

The Metropolitan Police said this week it has received 106 separate allegations of historical sex abuse connected with individuals at 30 of London's football clubs.

The National Police Chiefs' Council said 98 clubs across the country and spanning all tiers of the game had been "impacted" by the growing abuse scandal, with 83 potential suspects identified.

The vast majority of potential victims were male, and were seven to 20 years old at the time of the alleged abuse.

The NSPCC said last week they had received more than 1,700 calls to its free helpline since it launched on November 23 including 50 calls within the first two hours of it opening.

Sixty referrals to police or social services were made in the first three days, more than triple the referrals made in the first three days of a helpline for victims of Jimmy Savile.

Both the English and Scottish FAs have launched reviews into historical child sexual abuse in football.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “As of 13 December we had received six separate reports that non-recent sexual offences have been committed in Sussex by six separate football coaches.

“Each report is being assessed by staff in our Public Protection Department.”

A Sussex County FA spokesman said: “The Sussex County FA takes all matters of safeguarding and child protection seriously.

“As a result, we encourage anyone who may have experienced or is experiencing abuse in football, to contact the NSPCC’s dedicated 24 hour helpline on 0800 023 2642 where trained staff will offer support, advice and guidance, and will refer cases on to the police or other agencies as appropriate.”

Victims can also report offences via 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 to arrange to talk in confidence to experienced detectives.