Time's running out to back 2018 dream

Time is ticking away for people to back Nottingham's World Cup bid.

Anyone who hasn't yet shown their support by text or online is urged to do so straight away to send a strong message to the Football Association about Nottingham's desire to be part of the biggest sporting event on Earth.

The city's final bid is handed over to Football Association officials in London on Thursday November 26^th. And if successful, Nottingham's proposals will impress more than just sport fans – the whole city will benefit from the event and the visitors, excitement, profile and long-lasting opportunities it will create.

Nottingham's 2018 plans include:

• Grounding the city's hosting bid in Nottingham's rich sporting heritage and internationally recognised legends in green, Brian Clough and Robin Hood
• Building on Nottingham's proven track record for successfully staging major events
• Creating a series of Fan Fest sites in the city and beyond
• Ensuring a lasting legacy beyond the World Cup, especially for women's football with a Wembley for Women.

Anyone backing the bid will join a list of local celebrities who have lent their support, including fashion designer Paul Smith, boxing champ Carl Froch, Ashes hero Graeme Swann, golf star Lee Westwood and actress Su Pollard.

To back the bid text nott to 62018 or register your online support at http://www.england2018bid.com/support/register.aspx.

For more information on Nottingham's bid, go to www.mynottingham.gov.uk/2018bid

Text 62018 at 6.20 on the 18^th.

If you support Nottingham's World Cup bid but haven't actually backed it yet – here's a helpful suggestion.

Make a date in your diary for 6.20pm on Wednesday November 18 as the time to turn your support into action by texting nott to 62018.

Residents, businesses and community groups are all being encouraged to use the special time and date as a prompt to stop whet they're doing and text to make sure their vote counts. It will be one of the last chances to show support for Nottingham's World Cup ambitions before the city's final bid is handed over to Football Association officials on Thursday November 26^th.

Nottingham's 2018 plans include:

• Grounding the city's hosting bid in Nottingham's rich sporting heritage and internationally recognised legends in green, Brian Clough and Robin Hood
• Building on Nottingham's proven track record for successfully staging major events
• Creating a series of Fan Fest sites in the city and beyond
• Ensuring a lasting legacy beyond the World Cup, especially for women's football with a Wembley for Women.

Anyone taking up the chance to back the bid at 6.20pm on November 18 will join a list of local celebrities who have lent their support, including fashion designer Paul Smith, boxing champ Carl Froch, Ashes hero Graeme Swann, golf star Lee Westwood and actress Su Pollard.

To back the bid text nott to 62018 or click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website.

For more information on Nottingham's bid, click here to go to our Nottingham's 2018 Bid to be World Cup host city.

Bid goes global

Nottingham's World Cup bid has gone global, with the message reaching Ningbo in China.

The Lord Mayor, Councillor Jeannie Packer, has told pupils of  No.7 Middle School in Ningbo about Nottingham's hopes for 2018. She handed out Back Nottingham's Bid t-shirts to some of the pupils at the school (see attached photo), which has an education link with Nottingham Bluecoat.

Click here for more on the Lord Mayor's trip.

Su Pollard backs the bid

Local star of stage and screen Su Pollard has backed Nottingham's World Cup bid.

The Nottingham-born actress, who shot to fame with her performance in TV's sitcom Hi-De-Hi and is currently touring with stage show Annie, said that "every single person in Nottingham should back the bid."

Su joins a growing list of local celebrities who have backed the bid and urged others to do so, including fashion designer Paul Smith, boxing champ Carl Froch, Ashes hero Graeme Swann and golf star Lee Westwood.

She said: "I left Nottingham 36 years ago but my roots are there and I always feel very proud whenever I go back. There's lots of regeneration going on and this bid can only enhance what Nottingham has already done for itself.

"I think the bid's an absolutely brilliant idea and Nottingham is a fabulous place which deserves to host World Cup games."

Su wants everyone to text nott to 62018 or click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website. For more information on Nottingham's bid, click here to go to our Nottingham's 2018 Bid to be World Cup host city.

City's vision for World Cup unveiled (Evening Post coverage)

FULL details of the plan to build 4,500 homes and a football stadium for the 2018 World Cup can today be revealed. A group including Nottingham Forest, the city council and landowners will submit a proposal to Rushcliffe Borough Council this week for land east of Gamston.

Click here to visit the Nottingham Post website for more on this story.

World Cup stadium comes closer? (Evening Post coverage)

FOR years Nottingham has flirted with the idea of a new football stadium. Sites and designs have been put forward all over the city, but the development has never come any closer. But with Nottingham bidding to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup, there has been a greater urgency to find a scheme that will work.

Click here to visit the Nottingham Post website for more on this story

World Cup: Key players in the bid (Evening Post coverage)

The proposed development of new housing and a football stadium east of Gamston is complex. Political Editor Charles Walker considers how it might happen.

Click here to visit the Nottingham Post website for more on this story

World Cup stadium comes closer? (Evening Post coverage)

FOR years Nottingham has flirted with the idea of a new football stadium. Sites and designs have been put forward all over the city, but the development has never come any closer. But with Nottingham bidding to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup, there has been a greater urgency to find a scheme that will work.

Click here to visit the Nottingham Post website for more on this story

Join Robin at the Pageant and back the bid

Robin Hood has nailed his colours to the mast ahead of this weekend's Pageant and backed Nottingham's World Cup bid.

Nottingham's famous outlaw features in Nottingham's bid – along with Brian Clough, he is a famous local legend in green and is an icon for the green, sustainable elements of the city's 2018 ambitions.

Robin – a team player with his Merry Men and with a keen eye for hitting his target – is a strong ambassador for the city and its World Cup bid. And he'll be flying the flag for the city and the bid on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October between 10.30am to 5pm when the popular Robin Hood Pageant returns to Nottingham Castle, the ancestral home of his arch enemy – the Sheriff of Nottingham.

He will be urging all visitors to back Nottingham's bid by texting nott to 62018 or click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website.

The grounds of Nottingham Castle will be transformed into a medieval village encampment, with living history demonstrations, wandering minstrels, historical entertainers, King Richard – and of course Robin Hood and his Merry Men all in evidence. There'll also be archery, jousting craft stalls, falconry displays and traditional activities such as wood carving, weaving, and even turning lead into gold at the Alchemist's laboratory.

For more on Nottingham's bid, click here to go to our Nottingham's 2018 Bid to be World Cup host city.

Click here for more information about the Robin Hood Pageant.

Golf star gets behind Nottingham's bid

Another local celebrity has backed Nottingham's World Cup bid.

Notts-born golfing star Lee Westwood has lent his support to the city's aspirations for 2018. A big football fan and Nottingham Forest supporter, Lee is looking forward to the prospect of the city hosting World Cup games.

He said: "Wherever I go in the world, people still know about Nottingham because of Forest and Robin Hood. I'm backing Nottingham to be a host city for the World Cup because I'm proud of the city and the county and know thousands of visitors and millions of viewers from all over the world would also want to see and experience our city.

"As a Forest fan and an England supporter, I'm looking forward to seeing the World Cup come to Nottingham ... and Wembley."

The Worksop sportsman is one of the few golfers who has won tournaments on every major continent, including victories on both the European and PGA Tours, and was named player of the year for the 1998 and 2000 seasons. His support for the Nottingham bid follows fashion designer Paul Smith, boxing champ Carl Froch and the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team endorsing the city's 2018 ambitions.

They are all urging others to back the bid, by texting nott to 62018 or click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website. For more information on Nottingham's bid, click here to go to our Nottingham's 2018 Bid to be World Cup host city.

Back Nottingham's World Cup Bid at a market near you

Nottingham's Back the Bid campaign is going on the road, touring markets and shopping centres over the next couple of weeks, giving passers by the chance to sign up and show their support right then and there.

Nottingham's Back the Bid team will be opening a special stall in Nottingham's largest indoor market, The Victoria Centre Market from Wednesday until Friday next week, 14^th – 16^th October. They'll also have a stall at the popular Bulwell Market on Friday 16^th too.

Then, it's onto the Broadmarsh Centre on Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th October where the team will have a laptop at the ready, to sign up passing shoppers.

Nottingham, along with the 15 other bidding cities are in the final stages of the bidding process. Every vote counts so Nottingham's Bid team are encouraging as many people as possible to show their support by signing up online by click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website or texting nott to 62018.

Bringing the World Cup to Nottingham in 2018 will have a massive impact on the city, creating jobs, improving infrastructure and increasing tourist and visitor numbers. The FA will make their decision on host cities in December but it will be another year before FIFA decide whether England will be the 2018 host nation.

The Nottingham Bid team is made up of representatives from Nottingham City Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham Forest FC and Experience Nottinghamshire.

Women's football fixture a chance to back the bid

Nottingham Forest Ladies FC are hoping for record crowds at their showdown against FA Cup holders Arsenal Ladies next Thursday, October 15^th.

And they are calling on everyone who attends the match to pledge their support for Nottingham's World Cup bid – which could result in a Wembley for Women stadium and give women's football in Nottingham a welcome and lasting boost.

At the same fixture last season, Nottingham Forest Ladies managed to attract the highest crowd of the season for a Women's Premier League game of around 700 and received national recognition for doing so.

They are hoping to build on this success by offering free entry to under 16-year-olds accompanied by an adult or £1 for adults on presentation of your City Card for the game, which kicks off at their home ground, Carlton FC, at 7.45pm.

First Team Manager for Nottingham Forest Ladies FC Lisa Dawkins said: "Arsenal Ladies have a track record second to none and have previously been crowned European champions. They always attract a healthy crowd and always require us to play at our very best level. It's the one game of the year that we make sure that all of our teams come to watch. We're hoping to beat our record-breaking crowd for this fixture last year and in the process, show England why we should be a host City for 2018 and become the Wembley for Women."

Attendees will be encouraged to pledge their support for Nottingham's bid, either by texting nott to 62018 or by click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website. A half-time announcement will call on the crowd to get out their mobiles and send their text support there and then.

A key theme in Nottingham's World Cup bid is the legacy the event will leave of greater participation in girls' and women's football. The bid envisages a new stadium not only being a new home to Nottingham Forest but also a national stadium for Women's Football.

Nottingham has played a big part in raising the profile of women's and girls' football. In 2007 and 2008, Nottingham hosted the Women's FA Cup Final at Nottingham Forest's City Ground, doubling previous attendance records. Nottingham Forest Ladies also now play in the top division of the FA Women's Premier League.

Nottingham wants to build on its reputation for women's football by promoting the new stadium as a permanent home for the FA Women's Cup Final - a Wembley for Women.

Panthers pounce on Nottingham's bid

Nottingham Panthers have rallied behind Nottingham's World Cup bid.

Currently riding high in the Challenge Cup, the local heroes of the ice hockey world have pointed to the effect on sport generally and the city more widely as being reasons for people to back the bid.

Peterborough-born forward David Clark said: "It would be brilliant for the city of Nottingham to be successful in this bid. Sport is sport, football is big all over the country and here in Nottingham we like to think we share a bit of the limelight with Forest and Notts County.

"If the bid is successful it will be good for football, good for the city and good for sport, and that means it would be good for everyone, ourselves included. We'd urge everyone in Nottingham to back the bid, it can't do any harm, it can only do us all some good."

The Panthers are urging others to back the bid, by texting nott to 62018 or click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website. For more information on Nottingham's bid, click here to go to our Nottingham's 2018 Bid to be World Cup host city.

Paul Smith backs the bid

Nottingham's most stylish son, Paul Smith, has lent his support to his home city's bid to become a 2018 World Cup host city.

The fashion legend began his glittering career in humble surroundings in a shop in Byard Lane which is still there today. Just around the corner he has opened a larger flagship store in Middle Pavement.

He has always been proud of his Nottingham roots and now has thrown his weight behind the city's World Cup ambitions.

Paul Smith said: "Football has always been important in Nottingham and I fully support the city's bid to host some of the World Cup games."

It is a call to other local people to show their enthusiasm for their city's chance to host World Cup games in 2018. They can do so by texting nott to 62018 or click here to register your online support at the England 2018 website.

For more information on Nottingham's bid, click here to go to our Nottingham's 2018 Bid to be World Cup host city.

Back the bid kit

A new team kit for Nottingham Forest Ladies FC backs Nottingham's bid to be a World Cup host city in 2018.

The strip for away games by the first team are in the green of all the bid materials and A "WEMBLEY for Women" could be created in Nottingham, under proposals to be put to the Football Association.

The development of women's football is central to the city's 2018 World Cup bid. The aim is to turn Nottingham into a centre for women's football and to support the female side of the game with more coaching, competitions and facilities.

Under the plans, the stadium created to host World Cup matches in 2018 would become the permanent home of the FA Women's Cup Final and host international matches – as well as the home ground of Nottingham Forest.

Knock back the beer, back the bid

Nottingham's ambitions to become a World Cup city in 2018 will be on the lips of thousands of real ale lovers when a special 2018 beer is kicked off at the Robin Hood Beer Festival.

The new beer by Nottingham's biggest brewer Castle Rock has been created in support of Nottingham's bid to become one of 12 cities which could host World Cup matches if the tournament comes to England in 2018.

And it makes its debut appearance at the second Robin Hood Beer Festival run by the Campaign for Real Ale in the grounds of Nottingham Castle. The Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Leon Unczur, will pull the first pint of 2018 ale to mark the opening of the festival at 12pm on Thursday October 8^th.

It's possible the light brown bitter, 4.5% abv, will still be around in time for World Cup celebrations, since many special beers brewed as 'one-offs' by Castle Rock, such as Harvest Pale and Screech Owl, have gone on to become favourites and award winners.

Around 15,000 real ale fans are expected to attend the Robin Hood Beer Festival over its four days, Thursday October 8^th to Sunday October 11^th to try out some of the 700 beers on offer. During lulls in the serious business of beer tasting, they can sign up to support Nottingham's 2018 bid. There will be a stall where people can pick up more information about the bid as well as pledging their support by texting nott to 62018 or registering their online support at England 2018 Bid website.

Councillor Unczur said: "It's great that visitors to this year's popular Robin Hood Beer Festival will be able to raise a glass to Nottingham's ambitions to host World Cup matches in nine years. It will be even better if everyone who tries the special 2018 ale backs our bid."

Stepping up Nottingham's bid

The final push is on for Nottingham's bid to become a host city for World Cup matches in 2018.

The partners involved in the bid, including Nottingham Forest, Rushcliffe Borough Council and Nottingham City Council, are working hard to refine and submit their vision for Nottingham as a hosting city - and this final bid will be sent to the FA on 9^th November. FA officials have been impressed on their two visits to Nottingham.

The bid is underpinned by Nottingham's impressive sporting heritage, including the legendary achievements of Brian Clough and Notts County's status as the oldest football league club in the world. It has a 'green' theme, from Nottingham's main man in green, Robin Hood, to the sustainable elements of the bid, including a proposed new world class low-carbon stadium.

Another key element of Nottingham's bid is creating a lasting legacy for women's football in the city, following Nottingham's successful hosting of the Women's FA Cup and a growing number of female footballers finding success in the city. It's proposed the new stadium would become the Wembley for Women.

And Nottingham's excellent transport links play a big part in the bid, making it an appealing city for large events which it has an excellent track record of hosting. This would make it easy for visitors to move between the proposed Fan Fest sites in the city as well as those further afield.

Hugh White, bid coordinator for the City Council, said: "We believe we have put together a strong bid that stands a good chance of success, which we're building on and refining ahead of its submission next month. Now we'd like more and more people to get behind the bid and show the FA how much it would mean to Nottingham people for their city to host World Cup matches in 2018."

People can now back Nottingham's bid by texting nott to 62018 or registering their online support at England 2018 Bid website.

Back Nottingham's bid at Goose Fair

Visitors to this year's Goose Fair can sign up for one of the best rides of their lives – the chance for Nottingham to host World Cup matches in 2018.

Nottingham City Council's Infobus is down at the fair, where in between the rides, stalls and food, people can pop in and pledge their support for the bid.

Anyone turning up at the bus, near the pavilion, will be able to add their backing as well as picking up information on Nottingham's bid.

People can now also back Nottingham's bid by texting nott to 62018 or registering their online support at the England 2018 Bid website.

Click here for more information on Nottingham's bid.

Nottingham is one of 16 cities hoping to play a part in the world's biggest sporting event.

Nottingham Forest's stadium plans

Recent media coverage has focused on Nottingham Forest's plans to support its ambitions to return to the Premier League by building a new stadium which could also be used to host World Cup games in 2018.

Nottingham's Host City bid includes a draft proposal from Forest to potentially site a new stadium in the Gamston area.