[RobH]

England 2018 homepage

England 2018 is now online.

[RobH]

The Times - 8.5.2006

Chancellor backs England for World Cup
By Steven Downes

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, today gave renewed backing to England’s bid to stage the World Cup in 2018, and "bring football back home", as he tipped David Beckham to lift the trophy in Berlin in July.

Writing in Goldman Sachs’ economic report on the World Cup, published on the day that Sven Goran Eriksson, the England team coach, named his provisional squad for the tournament in Germany, Mr Brown said, "I believe this is England’s best chance to win a major tournament since Euro ’96."

Mr Brown is a genuine football fan, having been to three previous World Cups, including watching Scotland from the terraces in 1982.

"After suffering at the hand of Maradona in 1986, and falling to cruel penalty shoot-out defeats in 1990 and 1998, surely England are due a change of luck this time?" he wrote.

"If they get it, I believe David Beckham can lift the World Cup this summer."

As a prime minister-in-waiting, Mr Brown also turned his attention to a competition England might have a better change of winning – for the rights to stage the tournament in 2018. The United Kingdom has only ever staged the tournament, run by Fifa, the football world body, once, in England in 1966, when the hosts won at Wembley.

"Never has interest in football been higher, never the quality of the game greater, and never the excitement of a World Cup more intense," Mr Brown wrote.

"I believe that intense excitement will grow in this country if England is able to mount a bid for World Cup 2018. To follow the London Olympics in 2012 with the World Cup six years later would be a magnificent achievement for our country. It would emphasise just how much of a sporting nation we are.

"And I am determined to play whatever part I can in making it possible. Wherever I go in the world over the next few years, I will be on a mission to persuade other countries that it is time for the World Cup to come here in 2018.

"We supported Nelson Mandela in taking the World Cup to Africa in 2010, and on my recent visits to Mozambique and other African countries, I asked them to back our bid.

"In future years, we will support our friends abroad in taking the tournament to Australasia, and back to Asia and the Americas. But in 2018, it will have been more than 50 years since this country - which gave football to the world - has had the chance to host the world’s greatest tournament. So we will ask others to support us in bringing football back home.

"It is because of the power and importance of football that we are investing a record amount in grassroots football, with money going to organisations such as the Football Foundation and Supporters’ Direct.

"And with the launch of the new National Sports Foundation in April 2006, backed with nearly £35 million of public money over the next two years, we aim to work in partnership with football, the private sector and other sports to improve participation, coaching and facilities for all those who take part in sport, young and old, across the country."

[memorabilia]

Rob, on May 02 2006,13:01, said:

England 2018 homepage

England 2018 is now online.

could you check the URL of your webiste ?

[RobH]

memorabilia, on May 15 2006,07:40, said:

Rob, on May 02 2006,13:01, said:

England 2018 homepage

England 2018 is now online.

could you check the URL of your webiste ?

I've taken it down for the time being. I need the webspace for something else which is more important. Sorry. I'll upload it somewhere else soon though.

[henrysleftfoot]

Shame, I have found another England 2018 bid site here

The German's are putting on a good 2006 Cup, I would be great to see it back in England.

[arwebb]

Whoever has made that site doesn't know the rule about a maximum of two stadia in one city. It doesn't look like Rob's previous one at all.

Anyway, I think we need at least 12 stadia and I would go for these which already meet requirements:

London - Wembley and Ashburton Grove
Manchester - Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium
Birmingham - Villa Park
Liverpool - New Anfield
Newcastle - St James Park
Sunderland - Stadium of Light

Plus these that would require redevelopment work

Reading - Madejski Stadium (currently holds 24,000, but plans in place to increase capacity to 40,000 dependant on Premiership status)

Sheffield - either Hillsborough (holds almost 40,000 at present) or Bramall Lane (currently holds around 32,000 and plans to increase capacity to 44,000)

Leeds - Elland Road (holds over 40,000 at the moment but has seen better days). Would need a facelift.

Then either Southampton - St Mary's Stadium (currently holds 32,000) or Bristol (either Ashton Gate which is planned for redevelopment or a new stadium).

[NYCD 2012]

arwebb, on Jun 18 2006, 11:33 AM, said:

Whoever has made that site doesn't know the rule about a maximum of two stadia in one city. It doesn't look like Rob's previous one at all.

Anyway, I think we need at least 12 stadia and I would go for these which already meet requirements:

London - Wembley and Ashburton Grove
Manchester - Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium
Birmingham - Villa Park
Liverpool - New Anfield
Newcastle - St James Park
Sunderland - Stadium of Light

Plus these that would require redevelopment work

Reading - Madejski Stadium (currently holds 24,000, but plans in place to increase capacity to 40,000 dependant on Premiership status)

Sheffield - either Hillsborough (holds almost 40,000 at present) or Bramall Lane (currently holds around 32,000 and plans to increase capacity to 44,000)

Leeds - Elland Road (holds over 40,000 at the moment but has seen better days). Would need a facelift.

Then either Southampton - St Mary's Stadium (currently holds 32,000) or Bristol (either Ashton Gate which is planned for redevelopment or a new stadium).

How bout Goodison Park or the London Olympic Stadium

[arwebb]

You can only have two cities with more than one stadium, so no room for Goodison or the Olympic Stadium. Plus the fact that the idea of a new stadium for Everton is now back on the agenda.

[RobH]

The England 2018 site has moved. Click here to see it!

[RobH]

arwebb, on Jun 18 2006, 12:33 PM, said:

Whoever has made that site doesn't know the rule about a maximum of two stadia in one city. It doesn't look like Rob's previous one at all.

Anyway, I think we need at least 12 stadia and I would go for these which already meet requirements:

London - Wembley and Ashburton Grove
Manchester - Old Trafford and the City of Manchester Stadium
Birmingham - Villa Park
Liverpool - New Anfield
Newcastle - St James Park
Sunderland - Stadium of Light

Plus these that would require redevelopment work

Reading - Madejski Stadium (currently holds 24,000, but plans in place to increase capacity to 40,000 dependant on Premiership status)

Sheffield - either Hillsborough (holds almost 40,000 at present) or Bramall Lane (currently holds around 32,000 and plans to increase capacity to 44,000)

Leeds - Elland Road (holds over 40,000 at the moment but has seen better days). Would need a facelift.

Then either Southampton - St Mary's Stadium (currently holds 32,000) or Bristol (either Ashton Gate which is planned for redevelopment or a new stadium).

Reading and Sheffield are good possible additions. Also, as you can see, I've included St Mary's in my plan. Whether an upgrade to the minimum 40,000 for such a new stadium would be feasible, I don't know.

Arwebb, I did get your PM a while ago and was meaning to reply but forgot. Any suggestions you have RE: venues etc are more than welcome. You probably know more than me about these things, so I welcome your ideas!