Andy Carroll Returns to Football Pitch After Revealing Sexual Assault

Andy Carroll has returned to the football pitch for Dagenham & Redbridge, his first public appearance since revealing he was sexually assaulted by a 'celebrity mate' several years ago. The striker detailed the incident in his new book, "Owning It," which was released on Thursday.

Carroll, 37, shared the experience, which he described as 'traumatic,' only deciding to include it in his book at the last minute after discussions with his publisher. He stated, "I was sexually assaulted, there I said it. Scary to even think about and only a few people knew about it before now." The attacker was found guilty of sexual offenses and sentenced to three years in prison.

The assault reportedly occurred after a Newcastle United game when an acquaintance of Carroll's former partner invited himself over to watch a boxing match. Carroll wrote that he began to feel lightheaded, suspecting he might have been drugged. He claims he awoke to find the individual sexually assaulting him.

"I sleep naked and when I wake up this guy is under the duvet trying to give me a blowjob," Carroll wrote. He stated he then physically removed the individual from his home and contacted the police. The attacker later pleaded not guilty to the allegations during a court case that lasted two years. Carroll described the legal process as "humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous."

Carroll, who now plays and coaches at Dagenham & Redbridge, was seen on Saturday participating in the club's National League South match against Hampton & Richmond Borough at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. The team secured a 1-0 victory.

The striker reflected on how the incident and its aftermath affected his life, noting, "What happened to me affected every facet of my life. I’d think about it every day, making it difficult to focus on anything else, including football…The trauma of what happened to me hasn’t gone away."

He decided to share his story, with encouragement from his girlfriend Lou Teasdale, believing it could help others. "Scary to talk about but it's made 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," he wrote.

The book also touches on Carroll's personal life, including his relationship with Teasdale and his reflections on football culture, career choices, and past behaviors influenced by his earnings. Carroll also faces a separate legal matter, having pleaded not guilty to breaching a non-molestation order related to his ex-wife, reality TV star Billi Mucklow. His trial for that charge is scheduled for January.