A former schoolboy footballer has told a jury that sexual abuse allegedly carried out by the ex-Southampton youth coach Bob Higgins at his home left him so frightened that he developed a phobia about eating in other people’s houses.

The complainant said he and other young players, including Dennis Wise who went on to captain Chelsea and play for England, used to stay at Higgins’ home in Hampshire.

In a videoed police interview played to the jury at Salisbury crown court, the player said Higgins’ wife, Shirley, would go to bed early, leaving the coach alone with the young footballers.

The complainant, who can only be identified as “I”, said: “One time I stayed there and I was so scared of being alone with him I ran from the dinner table and vomited in the sink.

“From that day I’ve had a phobia of eating at other people’s houses. It terrified me so much at the time.”

Higgins has been described in court as a “predatory paedophile” who used his “supreme power” to allegedly carry out a campaign of sexual abuse against schoolboy footballers for more than 25 years.

Higgins, 65, abused boys on football camps, in his car and at his home, it is alleged. He denies 50 counts of indecent assault against 24 boys. Wise is not one of the complainants.

“I” started playing for Southampton just before his 14th birthday. Describing Higgins as an excellent coach, the complainant said: “He was someone I looked at as my best opportunity to become a footballer. He became the main man, he enjoyed the limelight and was very, very good at what he did.

“Everyone looked at him as the messiah, he was the one that could get you places. His training was the best I ever experienced.”

He said Higgins offered extra training at weekends and suggested to his parents that he could stay at the coach’s house.

After one alleged incident, Higgins is said to have told the boy: “There’s nothing to worry about, I’m straight.”

The complainant said: “He would kiss me on the lips when I went to bed, I hated it.”

Higgins once gave him a new pair of boots, the complainant said, but tThe next morning he said he could not have them after all.

“He said: ‘You didn’t appear grateful enough.’ This was the kind of thing he did to keep control.”

The complainant continued: “The other guy who would stay there a lot with me was Dennis Wise; Bob said he was the benchmark but said I could compete with him. He would take us both on training sessions all over the place.”

Alistair MacDonald QC, defending Higgins, asked the former player why he did not tell his parents. “I” said he felt scared and blamed his parents for leaving him with Higgins.

The trial continues.