Ray Wilson backs England’s 2018 World Cup bid
Dec 2 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
HUDDERSFIELD’S World Cup winner Ray Wilson says he’s fully behind the bid to bring the tournament back to England in 2018.
And the former Town star says it’s amazing the country hasn’t staged the event for the second time already.
The crucial decision will be made by Fifa some time around 3pm today in Zurich.
England have again been quoted by one bookie as favourite to secure the tournament.
“I think we’re perfectly set up for it,” said Wilson, the Colne Valley-based former left-back, who helped England beat West Germany 4-2 to lift the World Cup for the only time 44 years ago.
“We’ve got the facilities without a doubt, we’re a relatively small country, so travel between the venues is pretty straightforward, and we certainly have the public interest.
“Back in ‘66, the excitement generated by staging the tournament was amazing, and far more intense than it had been for my first World Cup in Chile four years earlier.
“The event is even bigger now than it was then, and with the passion people have for football here, it would be a marvellous thing to host it. I’m only surprised it hasn’t been back already”.
Wilson, who will be 76 later this month, emerged as an international star with Town, for whom he played 283 times between 1955 and 1964, winning 30 caps.
