The New Football Pools has joined forces with The Premier League and announced an exciting partnership that will see top flight football clubs help tackle the many serious health issues that men suffer.

The £1.63 million of funding will activate a unique programme, Premier League Health to help improve the state of men’s health in deprived areas all over the country.

The New Football Pools became an Official Licensee of the Premier League in the 08-09 season and together officially launched the Premier League Health scheme at Fulham Football Club’s Craven Cottage in February 09

The New Football 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 Pools said: "We are fortunate to be in the unique position of supporting our nations biggest sport through our Pools products - for 25 years, from 1975 to 2000, the pools companies were one of the only sources of external funding for British football investing £530million during that time. With the re-launch of the Pools at the beginning of the 08-09 season came a renewed commitment to fans and their communities and we are delighted to be contributing further to this legacy ensuring The New Football Pools is as relevant to football and society as ever. Our new games and products engage daily with a new generation of Pools players, providing ongoing funding opportunities for tremendous social programmes such as Premier League Health."

Premier League Health will see 16 of the clubs currently in the Premier League work with local health agencies such as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to engage over 4,000 men. The project will aim to tackle issues as diverse as depression linked to unemployment, obesity and general poor physical health, as well as alcohol and drug addiction. It will target any men aged 18+, with many clubs placing NHS health trainers within the stadiums themselves, taking referrals from local GPs.

The project will also encourage men to play more sport, think about training to become football coaches themselves, or look to point them in the direction of other agencies that might be able to help.

English males have a major problem with the poor state of their health;

• Men still have a lower life expectancy than women (77, compared with 81);
• Men have a higher incidence rate for cancers and suicide;
• More than 120,000 men in the UK die prematurely each year;
• Men are less likely to go to a GP or pharmacy and don't seem to want to participate in public health improvement programmes as much as women do

Speaking at the launch at Fulham’s Craven Cottage, Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said:
"Premier League clubs have shown in recent years the diverse range of issues that they can tackle through the extensive work they do in their communities. Many already partner with their local Primary Care Trusts, using the interest that people have in the club to help improve their health. In fact, almost 90,000 people took part in health specific activities at our club last season.

"Only a few years ago football clubs were viewed solely as teams that competed on the pitch every weekend. A modern day Premier League club does far more that that. They now employ hundreds of staff dedicated to running an array of community-focused projects that are having an enormous impact. I am sure Premier League Health will go on to do the same."

Former Fulham player Geoff Horsfield, who has experienced a serious health problem first hand, said:

"I was fortunate to be diagnosed with testicular cancer at an early enough stage to be able to fully recover and return to playing football with Lincoln City. I know from my experience that awareness of potential health problems and then engaging with the health services is a problem for many men. That is why I fully support the efforts of the Premier League and the New Football Pools to use the iconic nature of Premier League football clubs and players to start addressing these issues."