Sporting heroes back the Bid

In the run up to Fifa’s decision on 2nd December as to who will host the 2018 football World Cup, a number of English sporting legends have put their weight behind England’s Bid to host the tournament.

In an impressive show of England’s sporting prowess, an inspiring collection of sporting Knights and Dames has joined the campaign. The list, who have all been honoured for achieving worldwide success in their respective fields, includes former England cricket Captain Sir Ian Botham, the only player in history to score a century and take five wickets in an innings on five occasions, boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper and six time major-winning golfer Sir Nick Faldo.

Also supporting England 2018 are rower Sir Steve Redgrave, one of only four Olympians to have won a gold medal at five consecutive Olympic Games, Sir Clive Woodward, who famously coached the England rugby team to World Cup glory in Australia in 2003, and double Olympic gold-winning athlete Dame Kelly Holmes.

While they excelled at a range of sports, they are all passionate about football and England’s campaign to bring the FIFA World Cup to its shores. Botham, Redgrave and Woodward are all Chelsea FC fans while Cooper, a former British, European and Commonwealth heavyweight boxing champion who is famed for knocking down Muhammad Ali, supports Arsenal FC.

These sporting legends have all registered their support at www.england2018bid.com to help England’s campaign to host the world’s greatest football tournament.

Sir Ian Botham said: “The country has a deep-rooted enthusiasm for football with some of the best stadia in the world, so it makes logical sense for biggest football tournament in the world to be hosted here.

“With just days to go, this is a crucial time for the England 2018 campaign so I would urge anyone who has not yet got involved to do so by visiting the England 2018 Facebook page at www.facebook.com/england2018.”

Dame Kelly Holmes said: “England is on course to host a phenomenal Olympics in 2012 and should we win the Bid for England 2018, we will have all the necessary infrastructure already in place. It will be amazing for our athletes to compete in front of a home crowd in two years time and I can only imagine the tremendous atmosphere that would be felt around the country if we were to host a football World Cup.

“I am delighted to be involved in supporting the England 2018 Bid alongside some of the country’s sporting greats.”

Speaking on behalf of the England Cricket team, Andrew Strauss, said: "England has a great history of hosting thrilling sporting events and I’ve no doubt that England would be the perfect host for a World Cup. There is a huge appetite for sport throughout the country and our passionate fans would make it a very special experience. 

"We see the popularity of English football wherever we travel in the world and it’s always something people want to talk to us about.   Hopefully this winter we will be celebrating an Ashes win and a successful World Cup Bid!"