Clough Backs Derby's World Cup Bid

Derby would face competition from Nottingham and Leicester to be a World Cup host City for 2018 or 2022, should the England bid be successful, but Nigel Clough backs Derby's bid.

The Football Association sent a team of delegates to Derby today, where they have visited the area, met with county councils as well as visiting Pride Park and Moor Farm, our training base, along with the University of Derby and Rams boss Clough believes that they wouldn't have been disappointed as Derby has a lot to offer and could prove a highly successful host city.

"Derby is a real football city and has a good, long footballing tradition.

The people of Derby love their football and that is highlighted every week by the attendances at Pride Park.

I think the supporters will play a huge part in any bid, and with how passionate the Derby fans are and how much football means to them I think they should put some World Cup games our way.

On top of that, Derby already has a top class stadium and top class training facilities.

Without a doubt it would be a wonderful achievement and a wonderful occasion for the whole city if Derby could host matches at the World Cup."

Clough was talking to the Evening Telegraph.

Leicester and Nottingham are going to prove fierce rivals to battle with, but Derby has just about everything that the FA would want from a host city as a city and the footballing facilities needed (Pride Park's capacity can be expanded to meet the 40,000 requirement), so if anyone wrote off our chances of doing this they could be in for a surprise!

The final list of 12 successful host cities, from the 15 submitted, will be announced in December with England finding out if the World Cup bid has been successful in December 2010.

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