Charlton backs 2018 Sheffield bid

Charlton won the 1966 World Cup

Former World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton has backed Sheffield's bid to be a host city for the 2018 event should England be chosen to stage it.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "There's no worries that if they get some of the football in Sheffield it will be handled correctly, absolutely.

"I hope really that we do get the World Cup in 2018, it's our turn.

"We've stepped back and allowed other countries to have it. It's not right, we deserve it more."

Sheffield is one of 15 cities bidding to become a host city if England is successful in landing the tournament in nine years' time.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has just become an ambassador for Sheffield's 2018 bid.

He said: "Sheffield has such an extraordinary footballing heritage, the place of the oldest club, the oldest professional ground, it would be a bit like bringing football home.

"With the two grounds soon up to Fifa standards I think it will be such a transforming thing for the City, so I'm delighted to be an ambassador."