Clubs continue on 2018 World Cup trail

Blue Square Premier clubs, Forest Green Rovers and Rushden & Diamonds learned today that their chances of being involved in the 2018 World Cup, has moved forward one more step, as their affiliations with the respective bids by Bristol and Milton Keynes earned approval as the host cities were announced by Lord Mawhinney on behalf of the England World Cup Bid Organising Committee.

The selected 12 cities are each required within their bids to put together a number of "cluster groups", comprising a top class hotel, private training facility and a public training and media centre and it is in the last category that both Blue Square Premier clubs are included by their respective cities.

Colin Peake, spokesman for Forest Green Rovers commented on the good news, with a warning of caution after watching the announcement of which cities had been selected.

He said: "This is just another step in the whole process and ultimately the final decision will be decided by FIFA and that may not yet be for another 4 years.

"Nevertheless every journey, and this is a very long one, must start somewhere and sadly already for some, the journey ended today, as Derby, Leicester and Hull were excluded from England's bid, which will now go forward next May to FIFA."