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I imagine Remmie would be happy anyway! From The Times December 15, 2009 Liverpool facing ultimate cup upset if Milton Keynes makes the grade The World Cup map of English football will be drawn tomorrow and some of its most historic names could miss out on the riches that would flow from the 2018 tournament. Fifteen cities campaigning to be hosts for the 2018 World Cup will be whittled down to be included in England’s bid that will go to Fifa next year. The decision will be announced tomorrow by Lord Mawhinney, chairman of the Football League and the selection panel, but already a shudder has rippled through football’s establishment as they realise they could miss out. Liverpool is the most vulnerable, an historic football city with two great clubs but no great stadiums. But Milton Keynes, which has only had a league club for five years, has already impressed and could be one of the surprise additions to the England package of proposals handed to Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, next May. Andy Anson, the England bid chief executive, read the Milton Keynes submission first and emerged “very impressed” by what he thought was an exciting and interesting proposition. Pete Winkelman, chairman of MK Dons, who will present the city’s case tomorrow morning, dare not believe that his fledgeling outfit could muscle their way into the elite of world football. “It is just amazing that we have gone so far, so quickly,” he said. “What we must tell the bid people is how passionate we are about our football. We have to change any idea that only the big clubs or big teams can host this World Cup. We can and we really want to.” Liverpool’s bid was tripped on the starting line when Everton’s proposals for a new stadium in the Kirkby district of the city were turned down the night before their bid book was handed in last month. There is still no viable alternative to Goodison Park, while Liverpool say they will soon have funding for a new Anfield. But with no concrete proposals or financing, the selection panel will have to think hard before risking adding the city to the England bid. What has emerged from the first stumbling months of England’s bid, hampered by political infighting and public dissent, is the passion of fans, clubs and politicians alike for the first World Cup on home soil since 1966. Richard Tims, chairman of Sheffield FC, officially the world’s first football club, has been on a personal mission to round up support for an England bid. He has already signed up four key men on the Fifa executive — including Blatter — as Sheffield FC members and intends to woo others. “We have to have a World Cup in England again,” Tims said. “We have everything here — the history, the fans, the teams, the stadiums. Everything.” Tims has helped the Sheffield bid, which is one of those presented to the selection panel today, alongside Leicester, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Plymouth. Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Hull, Sunderland and a joint Newcastle and Gateshead team made their presentations yesterday. Bristol, Milton Keynes and London are tomorrow. For all 15, it has been an expensive and thorough task, fulfilling about 150 technical details, from the size of stadiums to transport, the availability of hotel beds, legacy, security, and even the attractiveness of each city. Each city is also required to put £250,000 into the campaign pot to finance the bid up to the final vote by the Fifa executive next December. If Fifa’s decision is eventually based on the sheer enthusiasm of each bidding nation, England will win hands down with people like Tims and Winkelman involved. “The enthusiasm shown by the cities throughout the process has been incredible and the support from around the country shows that the country is firmly behind England’s bid to host the World Cup,” Mawhinney said. “The selection panel’s job over the next three days is a tough one. It is vital we are as thorough as possible through to the end of the process.” Liverpool facing ultimate cup upset if Milton Keynes makes the grade | International Football - Times Online Be a major shock if that one happens. It seems pretty inconceivable for England to get the World Cup and not have Liverpool host a few games.