Nottingham has submitted its bid to become a host city in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Charles Walker accompanied the bid team to Wembley.

The documents handed to the Football Association by Notts' World Cup team could prove to be very valuable.

If the bid is successful and Nottingham becomes a host city in 2018, the tournament will be worth at least £130m to the city in the run up to and during the competition.

But the direct economic boost is only part of the benefit Nottingham could enjoy, according to leader of the city council Coun Jon Collins.

"The studies that have been done suggest it will bring millions of pounds into the city," said Coun Collins.

"But it also puts Nottingham on the world stage and showcases what is great about the city."

Nottingham is one of 15 cities who submitted their applications to host the World Cup to the FA, yesterday.

The FA will now decide which cities will be part of the England 2018 bid, which will be then submitted to FIFA, the sport's world governing body.

The Bobby Moore Suite at Wembley Stadium was bustling with mascots and football stars past and present, as the applicants set out to impress the FA.

Newcastle had brought the first team, with Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley, David Ginola, Jack Charlton and Paul Gascoigne in attendance.

Nottingham's bid team was led by Coun Collins and Nottingham Forest chief executive, Mark Arthur, with a group of city ambassadors in support.

Among them were ex-England and Forest star – and local lad – Steve Hodge; current Forest full-back Julian Bennett; representatives from Forest Ladies and others.

Mr Arthur felt confident Nottingham's bid would impress the panel.

"We are incredibly positive," said Mr Arthur. "We have put forward a fantastic submission. The FA will now understand what Nottingham as a conurbation has to offer. We hope we are given the opportunity to show Nottingham off to the world."

Mr Arthur said Nottingham had put forward the "best bid we have been able to" in light of the withdrawal of Notts County Council at a late stage, in a dispute over the location of the proposed new stadium. He also praised Coun Collins commitment to the scheme.

Nottingham's bid includes a proposal for a new stadium east of Gamston, a World Cup Park alongside the River Trent, and fan festival sites on the Victoria Embankment, Wollaton Park, Clumber Park, and Skegness.

It is hoped the tournament would leave a legacy in the city through greater participation in football; a stadium which would become the home of Nottingham Forest; and a new base for women's football, dubbed a "Wembley for Women".

Nottingham's bid coordinator, Hugh White, said he thought Nottingham had what is needed to beat the competition.

Unique

He said: "I am extremely confident. We have got unique elements. Our location in the middle of the country is ideal. People can come and base themselves here for the whole tournament. We have got the World Cup Park and we will engage local people – there is the opportunity of a great legacy."

The event at Wembley saw all 15 applicant cities and their ambassadors hand over their bids to the England 2018 chairman David Triesman, Brian Mawhinney and Andy Anson.

Asked whether more than one bid from the same region could succeed, Brian Mawhinney said: "Everybody will be treated fairly and rigorously. If they're here, they're here because they've prepared a compliant bid and the ones that succeed will be because, in our judgement, they've emerged as the best and there are no restrictions or imperils other than that."

In the East Midlands, Derby, Leicester, and Nottingham are all bidding for inclusion.

But 10-year-old Remel While, one of the ambassadors from Whitegate Primary School, Clifton, and a Notts County Boys' under 11s player, summed up in the Nottingham camp.

"Nottingham is the best city to have it," he said.