As the countdown to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa continues, work is already under way to lure the competition to England nine years later. WMN Sports Editor Mark Stevens spoke to one of the men who thinks the Westcountry could host games if that dream becomes a reality

THERE are those who merely dare to dream and there are others whose believe dreams can indeed become reality. In the case of Keith Todd, he happily positions himself in the latter category, especially when it comes to talk of bringing the World Cup here to the Westcountry.

In exactly 201 days, the eyes of the world will be firmly fixed on South Africa as it prepares to kick off what will be the biggest footballing tournament ever staged.

Years of intense planning and construction will be brought to fruition as the realisation of the country's own dream is played out in front of a worldwide audience, which demands only the very best.

However, as the final pieces of South Africa's World Cup jigsaw are being put into place, the seeds of a similar opportunity afforded to the people of England are just being sown.

Already a great deal of groundwork has been put into place as England, led by the Football Association, prepares itself to tackle countries including the United States, Russia, Australia, China and Qatar for the rights to bring the World Cup to these shores in 2018.

As part of that bidding process, Plymouth has identified itself as one of 16 possible candidates to be a host city within the England vision. Not since 1966 – the year in which England skipper Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy – has the World Cup been staged in these parts.

This Thursday, though, a powerful delegation from Plymouth will head to Wembley Stadium, the scene of English football's greatest ever triumph, to formally deliver their proposal bid, one which will outline what they see as an outstanding case as to why the Devon city should be included in the country's 2018 submissions to FIFA, the world football authority.

Among those heading to the capital will be bid director Mr Todd, one of a number of influential figures helping to spearhead Plymouth's proposals.

Speaking exclusively to the Western Morning News, the businessman and current Plymouth Argyle director said: "The World Cup is not just about football – it's the biggest media event in the world, and it's a wonderful chance for us to show off our region to a global audience."

In what is a highly detailed, 18-chapter bid, which covers every criteria and then some, the Plymouth consortium will give the England selection party an exciting insight into how they believe they can deliver on the World Cup promise. Not only will it be based around a stadium heartland at a revamped Home Park, but it will encompass supporting arms from not only in the city itself, but other outposts in both Devon and Cornwall and the region as a whole.

Already FA inspectors have been given a taste of what is to come during a visit to the region in September.

They spent the day with the consortium, which showed off Plymouth's best bits, as well as highlighting key landmarks and attractions in the region such as Land's End and the Eden Project, which could add to the experience of visiting supporters.

Consortium chairman Doug Fletcher said at the time: "Today we had confirmation that we are on the right lines. We have a very compelling case for Plymouth."

These sentiments are backed up by Mr Todd. "I believe the eyes of the FA inspectors were opened," he says.

"It's often the way – people who have been down here before have some idea of what it's all about, but there were quite a number who had never visited the area and hadn't realised the sheer beauty of it all.

"Plymouth as a city is very compact, so the proposed stadium at Home Park, the Fan Fest site on the Hoe, the city centre – which is a great place for people to mingle and walk around – it's all here.

"When Doug walked them through the city, it was the close proximity of everything they really liked. It was, as we said, the 'walking World Cup'.

"We have been pushing many different themes because it's not just about the chap coming to the football, it's about the whole family coming.

"If someone wants to sit on the beach, they can do that; if others want to explore Dartmoor, they can do that as well. It's a huge choice we can offer.

"The other thing you have to remember about the World Cup is that it's the biggest media event in the world and, as such, football only gets played on certain days. At the other times, TV crews are going to be here from all around the world looking for things to do, so the Eden Project, Torquay, Drake's Island, Mount Edgcumbe, there are lots of fantastic places right on our very doorstep."

Throughout the initial planning stages, Plymouth has made no secret of its idea to utilise the picturesque landscape of the Westcountry as a major selling tool. That said, FIFA's own mission to spread its illustrious competition around host countries has also made the area a very viable option.

With just London, Portsmouth and Bristol as other bidding cities deemed within the south of the country, Mr Todd and other consortium members are keen to hammer home the message that the Westcountry is more than capable of producing the perfect stage.

As always, there are those both locally and nationally who believe both Plymouth and England's bids are flawed before they even progress to any substantial stage. Mr Todd, though, is quick to answer those sceptics.

"The sceptism and disbelief that it is all impossible is based on history," he says. "No event of this scale or this magnitude has ever come here.

"What I say to those people is 'anything is possible if the will is there'. If you look beyond the obvious things, actually there is every reason why it should be here. The beautiful location, the fact that this will be the only place where you are going to have the stadium in the park, all that space around it, there are lots of opportunity to exploit.

"Also, the other thing which the sceptics will say is 'how will you fly internationally into here?' People overlook what is right in front of them, Newquay has the longest runway in the country and takes 747s, Exeter takes 747s, so the ability – once we know what countries will be based here – is that we will be able to fly fans, as well as teams, straight into the area. From Europe as well, we can bring in by sea, we are already set up there. So, for those sceptics, I would say 'have faith and get behind us'. This is there to be won."

Financing such a proposal is also a sticking point to some, but Mr Todd defended the actions of the local authorities, all of whom have pledged their support to the cause.

He added: "Those who question why a council would be spending money on this, they need to stand in the whole economic and business case for it. The headline numbers show that the total revenue increase is, very conservatively, just under £400 million. What the economists call the GDP impact is just a fraction under £200 million.

"Add to that the real impact into Plymouth, Cornwall and Devon, as well as the economic impact those numbers describe, and this is going to have a huge effect on the region for many years to come.

"As well as this, somebody said to me the other day, who has been to one of these events, the feel-good factor, the adrenalin rush of seeing international sports being played in your town is hard to describe; you have to experience it to believe it."

As well as aiming to create the ideal platforms off the field for World Cup visitors, leading figures at Plymouth Argyle have also confirmed Home Park will be redeveloped for the future, even if the city bid does not come to fruition.

But a new-look stadium will merely add to the credibility of what the bid is aiming to achieve, says Mr Todd.

With plans for the redevelopment expected before the end of the year, he outlined what he sees for the future.

"People think of it just as a football club, but the right stadium – with the right pitch – can be used for many, many things," he said.

"Home Park is used by a very small proportion currently, so if we can make this a usable stadium for other events such as rugby, rugby league, music events, big sporting occasions, that is going to be very good for the city.

"We also have some other plans around the park that will be complimentary to that, ones which will truly bring Central Park alive."

For now, though, Plymouth's attentions are firmly focused on this Thursday and delivering their bid.

Following the official handover, the consortium will then meet FA inspectors for one final, one-hour presentation in early December, after which a decision on all hosting cities will be made by December 16. If selected, Plymouth will work hand in hand with the English bid, which needs to be submitted formally to FIFA by May, with the final decision on the host nation next December. It's exciting times for everyone, but one can only hope this dream comes true.