Leeds chief salutes fantastic support and team spirit from across region

ELLAND ROAD will host the matches but it will be the whole of West and North Yorkshire that benefits from the 2018 World Cup experience.

Support for the city's bid was forthcoming from all corners of the region and those towns and villages will be rewarded with a significant role to play should England get the nod in Zurich.

"We have had fantastic support from across the region; from Craven, Skipton, Harrogate, Wakefield, Kirklees, York, Bradford," said Martin Farrington, acting director of community development for Leeds City Council. "They have all supported us because as far as we are concerned it is the Leeds City region bid.

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"We are in this together. We offer not only the fantastic facilities in Leeds but also everything else that is available; the North Yorkshire Moors, the market towns of Yorkshire etc.

"It's a great part of our offer to say to fans that when you're not watching football in Leeds, there is so much more to see.

"It is different to Euro 96 because a lot of people came into the city for just 24/48 hours, this time they will hopefully be staying for longer.

"We have done our bit to put Leeds and the region in the frame and it would be a fantastic opportunity to host the biggest football tournament in the world."

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Farrington, who will join the city's bid team and associates at Elland Road this afternoon to hear the announcement, said: "We have got a fantastic stadium, a modern transport network, great hotels and a real football heritage."

Farrington, who added that Elland Road will be improved to increase the capacity towards 50,000, continued: "All in all it has been a fantastic bid. The FA 2018 have done a wonderful job and there is a real team spirit."