Teams back city's World Cup bid
02nd September 2009
Football teams have united in a bid to bring the World Cup to the North West.
Wigan Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers are backing Liverpool FC's application to play host to the 2018 competition.
The clubs will provide training facilities for the competing nations, who will play matches in Liverpool if England's bid is successful.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Liverpool City Council leader, said: "Their involvement is fabulous for our bid."
Representatives from all five clubs met in Liverpool on Wednesday to announce their plans.
Celebration squares
These involve creating Fifa Fan Fest sites at the Mystery Park in Wavertree and Newsham Park in Kensington which will host events every day of tournament, and will carry a Victorian theme to play on the roots and heritage of football.
In the city centre Liverpool would create celebration squares on match days at the Pier Head, Clayton Square, Williamson Square and William Brown Street in the cultural quarter.
Sam Allardyce, manager of Blackburn Rovers, said: "To be involved in the World Cup is the dream of everyone involved in football and it would be fantastic to see international teams playing at Ewood Park."
The involvement of the north west clubs was facilitated by Roger McLaughlin, 2018 World Cup co-ordinator at the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
He said: "The economic benefits of holding matches in the city are felt across the region.
"Hosting the World Cup in England and Liverpool would make a huge economic and social impact and it is excellent to see local clubs working together to produce a truly north west bid."
Source: BBC
