A female physio hired by Wimbledon FC in the 1980s recalled how a member of the infamous ‘Crazy Gang’ shockingly began to masturbate during a massage, leading her to walk off
A member of Wimbledon FC’s ‘Crazy Gang’ once allegedly masturbated while a female physio gave him a massage.
Caroline Brouwer became the only female member of Wimbledon’s team in 1981 after being appointed assistant physio. Then 22, Brouwer was hired at a time when attitudes to women in football were very different, with her appointment even causing division among other staff.
She was thrown into one of the wildest dressing rooms in English football history with the Dons, who gradually became known as the ‘Crazy Gang’ thanks to their aggressive and intimidatory tactics on the field and their outlandish behaviour off it.
The dressing room antics would often go too far – and Brouwer claims she once endured the harrowing experience of catching a player masturbating while she was giving him a sports massage.
Speaking to the BBC, she recalled: “I went in for the first time between Christmas and New Year. That was a moment of ‘oh my goodness they are not really as nice as the Leatherhead boys.’
“It was a baptism of fire. It was like a male St Trinian’s. I just developed the hide of a rhino. They would try and shock you.
“There was one instance, during the time when Don Howe was [assistant] coaching us, when one of the players starting playing with himself, while I was massaging him.
“I just walked off and said ‘you need a hooker, not a physio.’ Don whispered in my ear, ‘Nice one, you handled that well’. He was a gentleman.
“But some of the players…you just had to ignore them. If you ignored them they wouldn’t get the attention they crave.”
Brouwer worked at Wimbledon from 1981 to 1994 as they were promoted three times to reach the top flight, and even won the FA Cup in 1988.
She went on to say that despite the despicable act, her being a woman did not necessarily mean she was treated worse than others by the players.
Brouwer added that Wimbledon stars, who were regularly dismissed for messing around and the toxic dressing room atmosphere, deserved praise for the hard work they put in.
“Someone would be throwing stuff round the dressing room, someone would be in a headlock, someone would be on the phone to the bookies, but then there was an absolute, instant switch from mayhem to discipline,” she said.
“They were supremely fit, well drilled and knew their jobs. I don’t think they get the credit they deserve.”
Leave a Reply