On this day: Portsmouth part of FA plans to host World Cup finals

On this day in 2008, Pompey were looking to host World Cup matches after the Football Association (FA) approached the club to join England’s bid for the 2018 tournament.
At the time Pompey had plans to move away from Fratton Park to a new stadium on Horsea Island.  Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty ImagesAt the time Pompey had plans to move away from Fratton Park to a new stadium on Horsea Island.  Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
At the time Pompey had plans to move away from Fratton Park to a new stadium on Horsea Island. Picture: Steve Bardens/Getty Images

The News revealed that leading FA staff visited the city to discuss the Blues' proposed new stadium at Horsea Island being one of the venues for matches if their application to host the event was successful.

Simon Johnson, director of corporate affairs at the FA, met with MPs, leading councillors and Pompey to view plans for the new stadium.

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Portsmouth was the only city in the south east that had then been approached by the association.

Council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson told The News at the time: ‘It wasn’t us going to them – they came to us, and that is a massive vote of confidence in the city.

'South of London there’s nowhere else that can even come close to what we can offer.

‘In the past, people have felt that the city has been ignored, had a tough time and a raw deal.

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‘For people like the FA to be coming to see us as part of the World Cup is a huge boost of confidence.’

The association was looking for up to 12 grounds across the country to form its World Cup bid, with Wembley taking centre stage.

Back in 2008, Pompey’s involvement depended on their proposed new stadium, which had a completion date of August 2011, being ready in time.

And if the Blues wanted to be part of the action they would have had to find a way to accommodate 45,000 seats – 9,000 more than they originally planned – as per FIFA rules.

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Pompey spokesman Gary Double confirmed the club had ‘exploratory talks’ with the FA.

But he said it was too early to comment any further.

Adrian Bevington, then director of communications for the FA, said: ‘There are another few months before we even need to officially declare our bid and there are going to be another couple of years before we actually submit it.

‘This is an area of the country where there are not that many stadium options at the moment.’

He added: ‘At the moment, there will be a process of dialogue between Portsmouth City Council and the football club, but this is a good catalyst for further development.’

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As you know, England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup never succeeded, with Russia chosen as the host venue.

Meanwhile, Pompey's ambitious plans for a new stadium at Horsea Island also failed to materialise, with the club remaining at Fratton Park.

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