By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn (pictured) has fuelled the already intense north-east rivalry between his club and Newcastle by insisting the Stadium of Light would be a better bet than St. James’ Park to host World Cup matches in 2018.
Both have put their names forward to be a 2018 host city and are desperate to be chosen.
The final list of up to 12 will be announced tomorrow but Quinn says Sunderland have a stronger case.
Roker Park, Sunderland’s former stadium, famously staged four games at the 1966 World Cup, the last time the tournament was staged in England.
It seems unlikely both North-East giants will be given the nod this time round and Quinn said: “Then Sunderland was a ship-building and coal-mining area.
“It is a much different place now.
“The best result would be for both Newcastle and us to be chosen.
“I don’t want to knock Newcastle’s bid but if it’s only one, we have filled all the criteria.
“We’d like to think we are ahead in various departments.
“In terms of what we can build around the stadium, I have been to World Cups and I know what is required.
“It’s about combining passion with professionalism.
“The club, the council and the people have become one.
“We think we’ve created something that would be very hard to turn down.”
Quinn said Sunderland’s progress on the pitch was also significant.
“Our club was under-performing but now we are moving in the right way and are worthy of our heritage.
“Go back pre-war.
“Nobody was winning the Championship as much as us.
“We were known at one stage as the Bank of England club.
“What we are trying to do now is emulate what has gone on in the past in a new modern world.
“It would have been easy not to have put in a submission and supported Newcastle instead.
“But that’s not in our make-up.”
Quinn admits, however, that if Sunderland misses out, then Newcastle must be chosen because of the unique atmosphere in the North-East.
“Our secret ingredient is passion.
“Our region is football mad and we want to show the world.
“We have to tick the right boxes, of course, but the region is desperate to show the world how to put on a good show.”
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