Andy Carroll's brave confession aims to help assault survivors
Former England, Liverpool and Newcastle striker Andy Carroll, now playing for non‑league Dagenham and Redbridge, has disclosed a sexual assault he endured in 2021. The 37‑year‑old details the trauma in his newly released autobiography, Owning It, and says his partner Lou Teasdale persuaded him to include the account at the very last minute.
Autobiography reveals hidden trauma
Carroll only a few of his loved ones were aware of the attack before the book’s release this week. He almost omitted the episode, but a series of conversations with Lou convinced him to add the details at the final hour. He hopes the disclosure will encourage other survivors to speak out.
In the memoir he admits, “Other things I’d quite like to forget but can’t… Something happened to me a few years ago that was so traumatic I only decided to include it in this book at the very last minute. I was sexually assaulted, there I said it.” The former England international earned nine caps for the Three Lions between 2010 and 2012.
Details of the 2021 assault
The incident occurred on the evening after Carroll had played a game for his hometown club Newcastle ‘down south’. He invited a “celebrity mate” to watch a boxing match, but the man gave him the creeps and bombarded him with text messages after obtaining his number. After a few drinks, Carroll felt light‑headed, went to bed and was woken by the man attempting to attack him beneath the bedsheets.
Carroll threw the intruder out of the house and, when the man tried to re‑enter, struck him “as hard as he could”. He then called the police while sobbing in his children’s nanny’s arms.
Legal outcome and ongoing impact
The attacker was later charged with sexual offences, sentenced to three years in prison, placed on the National Sex Offender Register and banned from entering the village where Carroll lived. Carroll described the court process as “humiliating and embarrassing and absolutely horrendous”. He has not spoken about the assault with his parents or a therapist, saying the trauma “hasn’t gone away; I’m still coping with it every day”.
Carroll added, “If me talking about it helps just one person then good it will have been worth it.” He believes owning the experience gives him control rather than letting it control him.
Victims of sexual assault can contact the Rape Crisis 24/7 Support Line on 0808 500 2222 or visit their website for a free online chat.