Sunderland aim to top Gateshead 2018 bid
Sunderland have submitted their 2018 host city proposal to FA representatives at Wembley in a bid to bring World Cup football to the North East and the Stadium of Light.
The group, including Sunderland AFC chairman Niall Quinn and Sunderland city council leader Paul Watson, made the long trip on the Black Cats’ new team bus to present their bid to figures such as Lord Triesman and Andy Anson.
Over 50,000 have signed up to Sunderland’s popular back the bid campaign and the area has consistently been represented by stars including Eddie Izzard, The Nolans and England 20/20 cricket captain Paul Collingwood.
Speaking after the official handover, Cllr Watson said: “This is a very proud day for Sunderland. The support we’ve had for the bid from the city and the whole of the region has been fantastic. There’s a real buzz around the region and people are talking very positively about our bid. Having the region hosting games at such a prestigious world event would be fantastic and everyone is very excited.”
Sunderland chairman, Niall Quinn, added: “Structurally and procedurally, we’re ready, in terms of transport, looking after fans, fan fests, press areas and other aspects, we’re fine. What we really had to get across was the region’s passion and will to make this tournament the best it can be. It was important to us to show what the real Sunderland is like. The support for the bid has been great up to this point and it’s great to see the region getting behind us.”
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No one can deny the passion and support of the fans at the SoL, but in terms of transport links, accomodation infrastructure and general feel about the place, it has to be their big brother up the road who gets the vote!
I’m a sunderland Fan and I’m delighted that we are going to be hosting some games, but I hope that the organisation is better than the England games held at the SOL. The transport arrangements were a shambles – I only live 9 miles away and it took me 3 hours to get home because they stopped buses going dowm the road where I and hundreds of others were waiting. NO signs to tell you they’d done this, and the queues for the Metro – don’t get me started.