England stars Roger Hunt and Everton FC's Trevor Steven launch Liverpool’s 2018 World Cup bid
Nov 26 2009 by Gary Stewart, Liverpool Daily Post
Two former England players launch Liverpool’s 2018 World Cup bid
A PAIR of former England footballers were travelling to London today carrying Liverpool’s hopes of hosting World Cup games in 2018 with them.
Liverpool legend Roger Hunt MBE, a World Cup winner in 1966 and second only to Ian Rush in goals scored for Liverpool, was joining Everton star and hero of the 1990 England campaign, Trevor Steven, on board the 7.50am train from Lime Street.
The Wembley-bound entourage includes a bid team comprising Everton and Liverpool executives Robert Elstone and Christian Purslow, as well as council officers tasked with promoting football in a city already in love with the beautiful game.
On board is a 259-page “bid document” entitled One City: One Goal, which sets out Liverpool’s case to be part of the World Cup party, even though the host country has not even been named yet.
The document highlights a regional take on the bid including suggestions of using Tranmere, Preston, Blackburn and Wigan’s grounds as training stadia for visiting teams to go alongside the proposed two new stadia for Liverpool and Everton – although those plans may need significant redrawing in light of last night’s Kirkby stadium rejection.
Following on from the success of The Capital of Culture year, a four-year programme of events is proposed leading up to 2018, and legacy projects which will serve the city afterwards.
It’s a bid with much riding on it.
Between £130m and £200m could flood into the city following a successful submission.
Costs could reach as much as £15m, expected to be paid by contributors including the FA, Everton FC, Liverpool FC, and the National Lottery.
Council leader Warren Bradley said: “The city bid represents the sum of what Liverpool has to offer.
“We can guarantee, if chosen, we can give the country the best World Cup there has ever been.
“The bid team going to London are a great group of people representing the city’s footballing community.
“We head to London with the support of the city behind us.”
His words were echoed by big names from both sides of the city.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said: "Having played in a World Cup, I saw first hand exactly what it meant to the cities involved, and I'd love to see that happen in my home town.
“Liverpool is a massive footballing city and a World Cup in England without Liverpool is unthinkable."
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