Newcastle and Sunderland win World cup football bid

Dec 17 2009 by Adam Jupp and Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE North East was yesterday guaranteed World Cup football if England is successful in winning the right to stage the 2018 tournament. Both Sunderland and Newcastle Gateshead learned they had been selected as host cities as part of the Football Association’s application to host the soccer spectacular. It is estimated at least £58m will be injected into the regional economy as a result of the festival of football being held here, with images of the North East beamed to an estimated worldwide TV audience of 2.4 billion in 240 countries. Dan Warburton and Adam Jupp were with the Sunderland and Newcastle Gateshead bid teams when the news was announced

This result will breathe fresh life into Wearside, insists Cats chairman

SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn last night claimed the club’s World Cup bid success could breathe fresh life into the Wearside city.

More than 100 onlookers erupted into cheers inside the Stadium of Light’s Sports Bar yesterday as the venue was chosen as a potential World Cup ground.

It is estimated that more than 240 countries across the globe tune into to watch the event, hailed the "greatest show on earth".

And analysts claim that the region could benefit with more than £100m being pumped into the Wearside economy.

But last night Black Cats chairman Quinn said it was important that Sunderland was given its time in the limelight after years of hardship.

He said: "Some questioned why we even went for the bid in the first place, because we’d always missed out in the past. Various things have happened in this city, in this region, the shipbuilding stopped, the coal mines closed and it’s been a struggle ever since to regenerate and reinvent itself, but this is a huge help. This is massive for the city and it can feel really good about itself tonight.

He added: "We know now we’ve a job to do for the national bid. We’re ready to go. The pride up here in football and to bring the greatest show on earth here, it’s going to be fantastic."

Tense scenes were witnessed prior to yesterday’s announcement from the FA headquarters in London. Among the crowd waiting in anticipation was Sunderland manager Steve Bruce who revealed his delight.

He said: "I’m really pleased. There are a lot of people in the club who have worked very hard for months. I’m delighted for them but I was always quietly confident that we would get it.

"It’s great that Newcastle have got it too. They have obviously recognised the passion that surrounds the North East and no-one deserves it more.

"I was always adamant that if England won the right to host the competition, then it would be wrong not to include this region in that.

"The North East thrives on football and the passion is unrivalled. No one deserves it more."

It is claimed that staging the World Cup will boost the development of the region’s infrastructure and sporting facilities. But Sunderland’s bid will have implications across the North East with venues from all over the region playing a role.

Training bases would be based at Middlesbrough’s training ground at Hurworth, the Darlington Arena, Hartlepool’s Victoria Park, Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside base and Carlisle’s Brunton Park.

Fan parks would be set up at Herrington Country Park and Fulwell Quarry, if England get the green light to host the World Cup.

Mr Quinn added: "I thank the region for getting behind the bid. Thousands upon thousands have signed the bid petition on our behalf, and we are going to be going to them again.

"We have given the people of England a glimpse of the passion people have up here."

The club confirmed their bid had cemented a strong bond with the city council, Town Hall officials heaped praise on the efforts of those who had made the bid a success. Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "There are so many people and organisations that have helped us to achieve this and I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played their part – large or small – in this success.

"To see the region come together as one has been tremendous and to be named as a Candidate Host City is just reward for the sheer effort and enthusiasm that the bid team and the people of our region have demonstrated."

Sunderland’s 2018 World Cup Bid director and the city’s head of Culture and Tourism, Chris Alexander, said: "The bidding process has been a challenge for all of us but the partnership between the city council and Sunderland AFC has been inspiring.

"We are proud and absolutely delighted to have been able to secure this for our city and our region."

Click here to replay the live blog of yesterday's announcement