Big day for World Cup bid
NOTTINGHAM'S bid to be a host city at the 2018 FIFA World Cup was due to be handed over to the Football Association at Wembley Stadium today.
A delegation from Nottingham, including Steve Hodge, the ex-Forest, Aston Villa and Tottenham midfielder who played for England at the 1986 World Cup, was to present the FA with the city's plans.
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ON THE BALL: Ten-year-old Remel White is joining the Sheriff of Nottingham, Leon Unczur, and the Wembley delegation to deliver Nottingham's host city bid. C251109JC4-1
The Nottingham bid includes proposals for:
A new green stadium east of Gamston, which would be home to Nottingham Forest as well as a new national base for women's football – a Wembley for Women.
A World Cup Park alongside the River Trent
Fan Fest sites at Wollaton Park and the Victoria Embankment, as well as Skegness and Clumber Park.
Coun Jon Collins, leader of the city council, who is also in the bid team, said: "There are so many different reasons why Nottingham would make the perfect World Cup Host City for England in 2018.
"It's a city people the world over recognise and want to come to because of the enduring legend of Robin Hood and our world class arts, culture and entertainment offer.
"We've got a football heritage that's second to none, thanks to Brian Clough and his Europe-conquering Forest sides of the 70s and 80s and Notts County, the oldest professional league club in the world.
"We will ensure that hosting the World Cup leaves a lasting legacy for local people and for football and that the massive boost to the local economy it will bring benefits to local people and businesses, helping the continued regeneration of Nottingham.
"We will use the World Cup to increase participation in football at all levels and promote diversity in the game.
"As well as being the perfect stage for World Cup games, the new stadium will be a new home for Nottingham Forest, matching the club's ambitions to return to the top flight, and we want it to be the new national stadium for the women's game in England – the Wembley for Women. It will also provide a major new sport and leisure facility for the whole community."
The delegation also includes Forest chief executive Mark Arthur; Sheriff of Nottingham, Coun Leon Unczur; Beth Bailey, captain of Premier League Nottingham Forest Ladies'; Julian Bennett, Nottingham-born defender in Forest's first team; Anthony Nweke, Powerchair footballer and 10-year-old Remel White, a pupil at Whitegate Primary School in Clifton, who plays for Notts County Boys.
Nottingham is one of 16 potential Host Cities vying to be part of England's plans to stage the 2018 World Cup.
The FA is due to announce which Host Cities will be included in England's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid on December 16.
15 Comments
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by billy, Living in this Labour generated hell hole.
Friday, November 27 2009, 12:50PM
“When are people going to wake up and realise FOOTBALL IS RUBBISH.”
by NO MOVE, FROM THE CITY GROUND
Friday, November 27 2009, 12:49AM
“First up, they are using Nottingham Forest as the bait for this bid. Every Forest fans knows that we would have to move stadiums (an unpopular move amongst every fan I personally know). What are Notts County putting forward for this? They risk none of their heritage but stand to gain a lot, whereas Forest fans risk losing the City Ground if the bid is successful. Your ordinary fan in the street was NOT consulted at any stage during this whole debacle and for that reason alone, I hope the bid fails and hope it fails miserably. I am all for bringing the competition to Nottingham, but not if Forest fans (and only forest fans) have to make sacrifices in order to so.
This bid is flawed on several fronts, I could go on but wont bother since my opinion (or anyone else's for that matter)obviously does'nt come into it at any stage. That is until they expect people to start trudging out to Gamston to watch forest matches, which is something I will not be doing if the bid is successful. Mr Doughty, I think your short term thinking has damaged your long term popularity.”
by Mack, Nottingham
Thursday, November 26 2009, 10:21PM
“Looking at the those involved in the delegation, it's a PC freak show.”
by ray, carlton
Thursday, November 26 2009, 7:07PM
“fan fest at skegness,a wembley for women,notts county,keep dreaming ha ha”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Thursday, November 26 2009, 5:41PM
“My view on this bid remains unchanged.
I can fully appreciate what having the world cup here would do, but a balance has to be struck, and on balance I cannot support the stadium plan.
To that end, I think Kay Cutts has, for once, got it right, though the ways and means in which that decision was reached were in my view rather poor.
Likewise Rushcliffe Borough Council; they started harping on about neutrality, but why didn't that matter when they signed up in the first place?”