The return of the pools

Football pundits and ex-professionals are launching a new version of the football pools.

The pools used to be played by millions of Brits, but has long been eclipsed by the National Lottery – losing 2m players in a week when the Lottery  was launched in 1994.

The game involves predicting the outcome of football matches on a Saturday, in the hope of winning the jackpot of millions of pounds.

The relaunch, entitled ‘The New Football Pools,’ includes online games and promises money for good causes.

Ex-Liverpool player and BBC commentator 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. Anyone can bring their knowledge and skill to their predictions and walk away with a nice cheque.

“They can even help make a difference in their local community facilities.”

Hansen, along with former England player John Barnes, ex-Chelsea player Tony Cascarino and former Premier League referee Graham Poll, will make up a panel of pundits offering online advice and predicting results.

Poll, possibly most famous for awarding three yellow cards to the same player during a match at the 2006 World Cup, has fond memories of playing the pools with his dad as a youngster.

He said: “My Dad used to win more often than not, by predicting four away wins. I used to love listening to the results in the car every Saturday afternoon to see if our numbers had come up.”

Sportech, the company behind the launch, bought another pools company, Vernons, last year.

Chief executive Ian Penrose said he hoped to attract millions of players to the new game.

He said: “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. The New Football Pools offers everyone a chance to join in, give their views and play the games in a very interactive way.”