Aston Villa and Birmingham City players support bid to host Birmingham World Cup bid
RIVALRIES were put aside as Villa and Blues players stood shoulder to shoulder to back Birmingham’s bid to host the World Cup in 2018.
They were joined by city leaders and famous football fans, Bluenose Jasper Carrott and The Twang lead singer Villan Phil Etheridge, to launch Birmingham’s shot at bringing the tournament home, outside the Council House yesterday.
As excitement grows ahead of Sunday’s derby, Blues striker Cameron Jerome and defender Martin Taylor said Birmingham would “pull together” to be selected from 16 cities vying to be hosts.
Former Villa player Ian Taylor said: “Birmingham being the Second City you’d expect us with the stadia we’ve got to be one of the venues for the World Cup. Having Villa and Birmingham in the same division again is fantastic but to have the World Cup here as well would be even better.”
Comic Carrott, who remembers well what it was like when host nation England won in 1966, said: “This is a football-mad city. I don’t see how we can be ignored and if it is it will be a tragedy. I’d like to think I’m still alive in nine years’ time! It would be fantastic. I was around in ’66 and not too many people can say that. It was tremendous it really was.”
Cameron Jerome said: “It’s pretty funny but obviously everyone’s here for the same reason - not forgetting what’s on Sunday - to back the bid. It’s nice to be out here taking part.”
