The New Football Pools Launch
Released
on: August 4, 2008, 8:04 am
Press Release Author: ross fraser
Industry:
Entertainment
Press
Release Summary: The New Football Pools is to be launched for
the 2008/2009 football season with an exciting new range of online
interactive games and a new star-studded panel of newly-appointed
Pools Pundits forecasting results and performances, it was announced
today
Press
Release Body: The New Football Pools is to be
launched for the 2008/2009 football season with an exciting new
range of online interactive games and a new star-studded panel
of newly-appointed Pools Pundits forecasting results and performances,
it was announced today.
Former
Liverpool football stars Alan Hansen, John
Barnes and ex-Chelsea player Tony Cascarino
team up with referee Graham Poll to form the
new Pools Pundits. Together they will be helping
The New Football Pools gain unique insight into
the game, giving predictions and opinion on every big weekly game.
For today’s launch they are also joined by former Newcastle
United and Tottenham star Les Ferdinand to offer
players regular expert advice and match predictions.
Their
comments about controversial and headline-making issues surrounding
the game as well as their views on the players to watch, the big
transfer deals and the teams they reckon will pick up silverware,
will be published on the website weekly (www.footballpools.com)
Announcing
the launch today, the Chief Executive of Sportech PLC,
Ian Penrose also revealed that a Football Pools
Trust had been set up to channel investment into football-related
good causes. The public can apply for grants for good causes which
will be considered by the new Pools Pundits who
will then present cheques to the beneficiaries.
“At
the height of the success of the traditional football pools over
one third of the population played every week. Football is now
one of the biggest talking points in our day to day to lives and
the New Football Pools offers everyone a chance
to join in, give their views and play the games in a very interactive
way and there is no reason why we cannot attract millions of players,”
said Ian Penrose.
Alan
Hansen said: “The pools was a big part of my family
upbringing and has always been at the heart of the football community.
It’s like transferring the talk in the pubs and clubs to
an exciting game online where anyone can bring their knowledge
and skill to their predictions and walk away with a nice cheque
and even help make a difference in their local community facilities.
The
New Football Pools will also offer new games, Premier
10, made up of ten Barclays Premier League games
of the weekend and Footy 15 which includes fifteen of the top
weekend fixtures from across the Premier League, Championship,
SPL and Europe. Playing is as simple as ever, selecting HOME,
DRAW or AWAY for as little as £1 a time.
Getting
started early on the punditry, retired referee Graham
Poll predicted honours for Chelsea this season. “Scolari
is a winner and vastly experienced at the very top level. Given
the incredibly talented squad he has inherited he should be successful.
It is interesting that some players who were reported to want
to leave Chelsea have decided to stay – testament to Scolari’s
approach. I think Chelsea will win a trophy this season.
Hansen,
Barnes, Cascarino and Poll will be regular members of the
Pools Pundits team offering weekly tips and views and
they will be joined by ‘guest substitutes’ at key
moments of the season or before crucial fixtures.
The
games can also be played on many of the Paypoint terminals across
a network of 17,000 retailers, through a minimum of 1,750 Ladbrokes
outlets, online via 888.com, with yet more ways of playing to
be announced soon.
As
well as the new interactive prediction games, old favourites like
Spot the Ball will be available as well as the Classic Pools where
8 score draws are picked from 49 fixtures and new Private
Leagues syndicates can compete in their own private prediction
league, pitting their skills and knowledge against each other.
The
original and famous Pools Panel consisting of ex football heroes,
England goalkeeper Gordon Banks, former striker
Roger Hunt and ex Scotland star Tony
Green will continue to meet at the Liverpool headquarters
of The New Football Pools every Saturday to make
their predictions in the event of match postponements.
Gordon
Banks, a member of England’s World Cup winning
team in 1966, commented: “The pools is part of our football
heritage and it’s been part of our lives for years. We have
a lot of fun meeting every week discussing the possible results
and there is often some heated discussion. Like everything else
the Pools has to move with the times and the new games on the
internet offer even more excitement to the new generation of football
fans.”
The
launch also sees The New Football Pools steps up its support and
development of sport and good causes in the UK through grants
awarded by its Football Pools Trust. Over its 85 year history
the pools has contributed over £1.1 billion to football,
other sports, the arts and good causes.
Sportech
plc Chief Executive Ian Penrose added: “The
pools has played a key part in improving sporting facilities during
its 85 year history and over 60 million people have been given
winning cheques. With the new online games, there is an opportunity
to play exciting games and win money by making accurate predictions
but also know that you are contributing to good causes –it’s
a win, win for everyone.”
Among
the first clubs to benefit from the pool’s funding to make
grounds safer for fans were Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers, who
were each then able to convert terraced areas of their stadia
to seats. Stadia such as Millwall’s New Den, Middlesbrough’s
Riverside Stadium and Huddersfield Town’s McAlpine stadium
were also supported with Trust Grants.
The
Pools has also established strong links with football
through a three-year partnership to become one of a select number
of official licensees of The Premier League and Football Leagues
and official partners of The Scottish Premier League and Scottish
Football Leagues. The Football Pools Investment Fund
has also been set up to channel significant investment into Football
related good causes.
Web
Site: http://www.footballpools.com/
Contact
Details: Sara Bagley
The New Football Pools
0151 288 3183