The new Football Pools recently joined forces witht the Football League Trust to announce an unprecendented new partnership that will grow disability football provision across England and Wales.

Every Player Counts, a leading project of The Football League Trust, has recieved a donation of £2.59million from The New Football Pools for a three-year, pan-disability scheme that will develop football opportunities at 36 Football League CLubs this season. The New Football Pools became an Official Licensee of The Football League at the beginning of the 2008/2009 season. Recently at Derby County FC's Pride Park Stadium, The Football League Trust and the New Football Pools officially launched this exciting scheme. 

The New Football Pools funding of Every Player Counts makes up half of an overall £5million scheme. A further £2million of funding is coming from both the public and private sectors to extend the impact and sustainability of this initiative. The Football League Trust's establishment of a partnership agreement with the FA, will see match funding through their COunty FA's, for a number of applications. Already £455,000 has been promised, including £250,000 committed in the North West.

The New Football League Pools has developed a longstanding relationship with Football and the Community during its 85 years history. Ian Penrose, Chief Executive of Sportech PLC, owner of The New Football League Pools said, "We are very fortunate to be in the position of supporting the nation's biggest sport through our Pools products- the company has invested over £1.1billion into football and other good causes throughout its history. For 25 years, from 1975 to 2000, the pools companies were one of the only sources of external funding for British football with donations currently totalling £530million.

"With the re-launch of the Pools in the last football season comes a renewed commitment to fans and their communities. Today, we are delighted to build on this legacy ensuring The New Football League Pools is even closer to the game that we have supported over the decades."

Every Player Counts is the first pan-disability programme delivered nationally by 36 Football League Community Schemes who will receive £1,000 in Year 1 of the project to assist them in building capacity, enabling these schemes to apply for a full grant in Year 2.

Speaking at the launch at Pride Park, Football League Trust General Manager Dave Edmundson said, "This is an exciting and groundbreaking project to be delivered by Football League clubs' community programmes. It demonstreates the diverse and wide ranging elements of these Community schemes and the role they now fulfill. The commitment shown by the various organisations and agencies involved in the project is absolutely vital to its success."

"We are most grateful to The New Football Pools who have made this possible and have encouraged the concept of Every Player Counts throughout."

Following the recent national launch the 36 clubs will start their individual programmes, each providing a different scheme tailored to meet the needs of their local communities by delivering football opportunities to people witha  range of disabilities and impairments.