London's Park Life celebrated for 2018 bid

'Park Life' was made by production company New Moon

The fine people of Merseyside, Manchester and the North East may well disagree, but London is the hotbed of English football.

The capital is home to 13 professional football clubs that play host to more than 30 million fans every year.

However, these numbers are not even the most impressive aspects of London's footballing landscape.

It is, according to a new video, the parks and the people who play in them.

Park Life

In support of England's 2018 World Cup bid, a new video is being launched to underline the passion for the game within the capital's many communities and how football lies at the heart of London.

The film, which you can watch in full above, attempts to encapsulate the 'jumpers for goalposts' matches enjoyed by children and adults in any of London's 278 parks and open spaces.

As the film progresses, the enthusiasm for amateur football is juxtaposed with the glory of the professional game, as shots reveal current England stars playing at Wembley.

The message is simple - many of England's superstars started by playing in the parks, just like the rest of us.

England's finest

One player endorsing London's Park Life video is England captain John Terry who remembers kicking a ball about in his local park.

The England and Chelsea player said: "I lived in Barking as a youngster and right at the back of my house, literally just over the other side of the fence, was Newlands Park.

We used to pretend we were in the World Cup and would be different teams each time England captain John Terry

"That's where I played all of my football growing up.

"It was always me and my brother against our two next door neighbours, Danny and Billy. We used to pretend we were in the World Cup and would be different teams each time."

Another player with fond memories of playing football in the park is West Ham's Carlton Cole.

He said: "I grew up in Croydon and remember when I was younger going to the park many times, kicking a ball about with my uncle, cousins and friends.

"You hear so much about young people and children not having that much to do where they live or the facilities to do things, so parks and areas like this are important to have.

"For youngsters who want to play football professionally when they are older, parks are where they can practice their skills and learn."

London United

Spurs and Arsenal fans can relax. The two clubs are not entering merger talks.

London United is a group of the capital's key stakeholders who are pushing London as part of England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Among the members of London United are the Mayor of London's office, the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, London Councils, Royal Parks and Visit London.

Chairman of London United, Simon Greenberg, said: "London has more parks and open spaces than any other city in the world and they are used by people of all ages, races, genders, shapes and sizes playing football day in, day out seven days a week.

"It is in these parks that some of England's best international footballers started out playing, and no doubt some of the young people currently playing in our parks will be part of England's starting line-up at Wembley for the Fifa World Cup 2018, should we win the bid."