DURHAM County Cricket Club has become the latest organisation to throw its weight behind Sunderland’s bid to stage World Cup football in 2018.

The club, which recently became the first club to have two consecutive seasons as county champions, has given its support to Sunderland’s proposal to the FA, which it hopes will become part of England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Durham CCC’s Riverside ground, in Chester-le-Street, has already been included in Sunderland’s bid as a firstclass facility for teams in the tournament to use. The club is also supporting Newcastle- Gateshead’s bid.

Niall Quinn, chairman of Sunderland AFC, who is leading the city’s bid, said: “We’re delighted Durham County Cricket Club agreed to be part of the Sunderland 2018 bid. It is a great club that really enhances our proposal. We want to make Chester-le-Street, Durham and their people, key aspects of hosting World Cup games.”

Paul Collingwood, Durham’s Ashes-winning batsman and a Sunderland supporter, also backed the bid. He said: “I’ve seen some great matches at the Stadium of Light and the atmosphere can be phenomenal. The thought that we could see World Cup games played there is very exciting.

“The people of Sunderland and the North-East would make every match a special occasion.”

To back the Sunderland bid, log onto sunderland2018bid.

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