Source: Telegraph
Peter Beardsley backs Newcastle's bid for World Cup football
Beardsley, who played for England at two World Cups in 1986 and 1990, threw his weight behind the campaign to bring the tournament to his hometown which was launched at Newcastle's stadium.
Beardsley, who won 59 England caps, said: "The North East has a totally unique passion for football and I would be proud if we were able to stage World Cup football at St James Park because for me there is no better stadium.
"I was lucky to play at World Cups and I know that to have World Cup football here would be unbelievable and it would be fantastic for the region as a whole.
"As a former England international footballer I can honestly say that there is no greater honour than to be selected to play for your country.
"However, being chosen to play for your country in your own country where football is a religion would be an amazing experience.
"If Newcastle Gateshead was to become a host city for the World Cup, the twin cities would come alive with a sense of carnival.
"It is this level of excitement combined with investment that would be sure to inspire the region's young footballers and20will create a sporting legacy for generations to come." The bid to be a host city for England's 2018 and 2022bid will be submitted by a Newcastle and Gateshead delegation to the Football Association bid team this Wednesday at Wembley Stadium.
The first visit by the FA's technical team to the â twin cities' on 13 July will look at the location's suitability in terms of stadia, hotels, training facilities and the media infrastructure for promoting the event.
Cllr John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council said: "We plan to deliver a festival of football set in the very heart and fabric of the twin cities. Only by working in partnership can we deliver an event of this scale.
"This is about NewcastleGateshead United and the region working together. If we are successful the legacy and media profile would transform international awareness of our city for decades to come. It would be a major boost to the local economy and could potentially add up to £25million to tourism in the region.
"One of our greatest assets will be the hotel stock of the city. By 2018 we will have 3,000 hotel rooms within 20 minute's walk of the stadium."
His Gateshead counterpart, Cllr Mick Henry, added: "We believe NewcastleGateshead is one of England's most iconic host locations. We now have the best cultural facilities in Europe for a city/region of its size and in hosting the World Cup we will create a sense of festival, carnival and excitement for generations.
"It would mean better local sports facilities, improved support for grassroots football and improved research on sports medicine.
"This is a genuine NewcastleGateshead and regional bid. We would host the main matches in Newcastle but would have events, training sites and team hotels in Gateshead and potentially as far afield as Northumberland and Darlington.
Andrew Dixon, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, which is co-ordinating the bid, continued: "NewcastleGateshead has all the infrastructure in place to host world-class events of this scale.
"With the cities profiled internationally to an estimated TV audience of 24 billion people in 240 countries it would generate huge interest in NewcastleGateshead, bringing a positive economic contribution to tourism for many years to come."
Public opportunities to back the bid for England 2018 and NewcastleGateshead can be made at www.england2018bid.com and www.NewcastleGateshead.com/2018
