The Football Trust was a Government funded body to improve the safety of sports stadiums in the United Kingdom. It was set up by the Labour Government in 1975, with the assistance of the pools companies and the

English Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engl ...

. Its original primary purpose (when it was known as the Football Grounds Improvement Trust) was to assist with the costs of implementing the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975. In October 1990, Chancellor of the Exchequer

John Major Sir John Major (born 29 March 1943) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997, and as Member of Parliament ...

reduced tax on the pools competitions such as "spot the ball" to help fund the trust. It was chaired by

Tom Pendry Thomas Pendry, Baron Pendry, (born 10 June 1934) is a Labour Party politician and member of the House of Lords. He was previously the Labour member of parliament for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1970 to 2001. In 2000, prior to his retirement as a ...

. parliament.uk
/ref> The Trust was wound up in 2000 and replaced with the

Football Foundation The Football Foundation is the United Kingdom's largest sports charity, channelling funding from the Premier League, The FA and the government (through Sport England) into transforming the landscape of grassroots sport in England. History Launc ...

References

{{Authority control 1975 establishments in the United Kingdom 2000 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Charities based in the United Kingdom Football organisations in England Football organisations in Scotland Sports organizations established in 1975 Sports charities