Source: Northern_Echo
Harper warns FA not to ignore North-East
IF the Football Association ignore the North-East's bid to host matches at the 2018 World Cup the backlash would spark a second Jarrow March on London.[LNB] That is the belief of Newcastle United goalkeeper Steve Harper who is backing St James' Park's claims to be chosen as a venue if England win their bid to host the 2018 competition.[LNB] NewcastleGateshead and Sunderland deliver their bid presentation documents to the England 2018 team at Wembley Stadium today and Harper warned the FA risk an angry response if they fail to include the North-East bidders when their shortlist of host cities is finalised on December 14.[LNB] The Easington-born keeper believes the region's historic position as a hotbed of talent and the passion of its supporters makes it unthinkable that the FA can fail to play matches in at least one North- East stadium if the World Cup Finals return to English soil.[LNB] I can't see any way if England win the right to host the World Cup that there wouldn't be any games in the North- East. I think there might be a march down the A1 if that happens. We will see the second Jarrow March if the FA ignore the North-East because it's a no-brainer for the North-East to stage several games, said Harper.[LNB] It would be a tragedy if Newcastle didn't get it. The country as a whole has got to win the right to host the tournament first and it would be fantastic if we can win the bid. It will be 52 years since the World Cup was here and we won it and it's overdue. It would be brilliant if football did come home again.[LNB] This is the real hotbed of football and we have two fantastic stadiums. If you look at St James' Park this is an amazing place to play football so hopefully the FA can put a successful bid together and we can get a few games up here.[LNB] Harper's allegiance to Newcastle doesn't prevent him from supporting the candidacy of the Magpies traditional local rivals.[LNB] I'd like to see as many games as possible in the North-East, he added.[LNB] You could easily have games in Newcastle and Sunderland because both clubs have such big fanbases and they would travel to both stadiums.[LNB] It isn't just about Newcastle and Sunderland, they know what it is going on internationally and nationally.[LNB] The passion the fans have for football guarantees you will fill the stadiums.[LNB] I don't think that is the same for other parts of the country. Look at the crowds we have got this season, 43,000 people coming to watch Newcastle play Peterborough tells you everything.[LNB] In the meantime Harper revealed one of the secrets behind Newcastle's position as Championship table toppers.[LNB] (Assistant manager) Colin Calderwood has a lot of experience of this division and he breaks the season into mini runs of games, said Harper.[LNB] The teams that get out of this division are the ones who put little runs together, win home and away and the only two who have managed to do that this season are West Brom and ourselves. That's why we are at the top of the league. We've got two home games now to kick on and open up even more of a gap.[LNB] We'd be slightly disappointed if we didn't finish as champions, but if we finish second we're out of this league and that is the main thing.[LNB]
