This week is “Back the Bid Week” as the official FIFA delegation visit the country in advance of the decision as to where the 2018 football World Cup will be held.
Blue Square Bet North club Blyth Spartans has signed up to support England’s bid.
As part of candidate city NewcastleGateshead’s hope to stage games at St. James’ Park the club has agreed that their Croft Park ground be nominated as a potential Team Base Camp. This is where a World Cup team would train if the bid to host the Finals were accepted.
“It’s brilliant news for us,” commented Spartans’ Chairman Tony Platten.
“Having a major international team training at our ground would be a tremendous thing not only for the club but also the whole town, and indeed Northumberland.
“Of course there are still hurdles to overcome and we will be competing against other local potential Team Base Camps but we are very excited at the prospect. It’s an honour for Blyth Spartans to be part of this whole process and we’ll do all we can to support the country’s bid to host the Finals.”
Team Base Camps will offer teams training facilities for the six or seven weeks they are in the England. Teams will stay at nearby hotels and at certain times the public will be allowed to watch the training.
Mr. Platten added, “Just imagine Brazil in Blyth! I urge all supporters and local people to support the English bid. They can do this by texting ‘England’ to 62018 or via www.england2018bid.com.
The decision on where the 2018 World Cup will be held will be announced in early December this year. If it is successful and NewcastleGateshead is chosen as a host city the decision on Base Camps will be made in 2012.