Tour of region gives hope to host World Cup 2018 games

Aug 26 2010 by Adam Jupp, The Journal

A DELEGATION of global soccer chiefs spent the day in the region as they scrutinised England’s bid to host the World Cup.

Games would be played in both Sunderland and Newcastle Gateshead if the Football Association’s move to host the tournament in 2018 is successful.

FIFA sent a six-strong team of inspectors to England this week, during which they visited four cities where matches would be staged.

The team arrived in the North East on Tuesday evening, when they met officials from Tyneside and Wearside at Rockliffe Hall hotel, in Darlington.

Yesterday morning, the delegation headed to the Stadium of Light, where they were given a tour of the ground and were challenged to an impromptu penalty shoot-out by Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, who played in two World Cups with the Republic of Ireland.

Quinn raised a few laughs when he tried to dink his strike down the middle of the goal, laid out by jumpers, but his effort was saved.

Quinn said: “Once again, the sun shone on Sunderland at a key moment in the FIFA World Cup bidding process.

“From our perspective, I don’t think we could have done anything more or would have done anything different – other than me, as I’d prefer to have made a better job of that penalty.

“Of course, the FIFA inspectors are not able to give us any feedback now – we will only really get that when the final decision is announced on December 2.

“However, what I can say is that everyone involved in the Sunderland bid has delivered the goods – from the key partners in the city, the likes of Steve Gibson from Middlesbrough FC and his great facilities at Rockliffe Hall, the kids from the SAFC Foundation, and the many other individuals and organisations around the North East and beyond who continue to contribute to the campaign.”

Former Olympic champion Steve Cram, who is a Sunderland bid champion, was also there. He said: “We believe that England’s technical bid is extremely compelling and venues such as the Stadium of Light reinforce that aspect.

“It was great that the FIFA inspectors had the opportunity to see the facilities here first hand and gain an understanding of how well connected the infrastructure is here in Sunderland and the North East.”

Led by Chilean Federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the officials then flew by helicopter to Newcastle, where they were met by former Magpies forward Peter Beardsley, managing director Derek Llambias and city council leader David Faulkner.

Coun Faulkner said: “We have had a good hour with the inspectors and it has gone really well.

“There already had a considerable about of information at their disposal but this was an opportunity to show then the fabulous stadium we have here.”