The independent review into allegations of child abuse in football has made its first call for evidence. Set up by the Football Association and led by Clive Sheldon QC, the review has written to all football clubs in England and Wales, amateur and professional, asking for information about allegations of child sexual abuse between 1970 and 2005.

The clubs have until 15 March to respond but, in the meantime, the review is also inviting any individuals with information to send it by email to footballsportresolutions.co.uk.

Sport Resolutions, the independent arbitration service for sport in the UK, is providing back-office support for Sheldon’s inquiry, with further legal assistance coming from 11KBW Chambers and expert advice from the child protection specialist Dr Mike Hartill.

In a statement the independent review said all correspondence would be treated in confidence but allegations of criminal behaviour would be forwarded to Operation Hydrant, the unit coordinating police investigations into child sexual abuse across the UK.

The review also reminded anyone who experienced abuse as a young footballer that the NSPCC has a dedicated helpline that can be reached 24 hours a day at 0800-023 2642.

The FA asked Sheldon to lead the review following a tidal wave of allegations about historic abuse in the game that started in November when the former player Andy Woodward told the Guardian about his experiences in the 1980s.

That prompted several other former players to come forward with their own harrowing stories, and within a matter of weeks the scandal had spread throughout the UK.

The most recent figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) on 22 December revealed that 429 new victims of child sexual abuse in football have been identified, with 148 clubs involved and 155 suspects.

But the sheer weight of calls and emails – the NPCC said it had received 819 referrals from police forces and the NSPCC helpline – has meant many victims have had to wait for more than a month for a police interview or even a follow-up call.

It understood most of the first wave of victims to come forward and speak publicly about their ordeals have now been interviewed by specialist police officers, but they waited an average of six weeks to do so.