Ex-Stoke City player Peter Fox 'admitted Deep Heat abuse' Published duration 16 July 2015

image copyright Getty Images image caption Peter Fox denies claims he abused an apprentice in the 1980s

Former Stoke City goalkeeper Peter Fox boasted of putting Deep Heat in the "sensitive places" of young footballers who got "too big for their boots", a court has heard.

Preston County Court heard the goalkeeper gave a radio interview talking of what had happened, some time between 1986 and 1988.

Ex-Stoke City apprentice George Blackstock, 44, says he was held down and abused with a goalkeeping glove.

He is claiming damages against Mr Fox.

Mr Blackstock, from Belfast, has also started legal action against the club for a breach of duty.

'Changed the subject'

Court witness John Washington told the court he remembered having listened to the interview on BBC Radio Stoke.

He said he could not remember certain details about the interview - but that he was "shocked" at the comment about Deep Heat, a type of muscular pain relief ointment.

He said: "I can remember Peter saying what he did - 'if any young lad at Stoke gets too big for their boots we put Deep Heat in a sensitive place'.

"I'm sure about the Deep Heat."

He said that following the comment, the reporter at BBC Radio Stoke "moved on quick and changed the subject on to tactics".

'Fantastic Mr Fox'

Mr Washington told the hearing that he first became aware of the case in 2013 after reports in the local and national press.

He said he came forward with the information "out of duty".

Mr Fox said the claims were "completely untrue" and it was "very rare that apprentices would mix with the professional first team".

He told the hearing he had been referred to as "Fantastic Mr Fox" and said he had been a club captain at the time.

He denied the phrase "Foxy give him the glove" was shouted to him as Mr Blackstock was held down on a physio table, adding "it never happened".

But Mr Fox said "there had been ribbing of apprentices" and remarks about a teammate's genitalia, but he "had not seen anything that has pricked [his] conscience".

Stoke City and Mr Fox deny Mr Blackstock's claims.

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