Last updated 22/02/2010
Morrisons, one of Britain’s leading supermarkets, today announced it has become a partner of England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.
Morrisons is celebrating its support for England’s bid by mounting a campaign in its stores to collect more than two million customer signatures, which will help demonstrate the strength of public enthusiasm for England to host the tournament, to the FIFA that will decide its destination in December.
Mark Gunter, Group Retail Director at Morrisons, said: “We’re sure that our customers would be delighted if the World Cup came to England in 2018 and by becoming a commercial partner we can help them to play their part in supporting the bid.”
More than 10 million customers visit Morrisons stores across the country every week and the supermarket will be urging each and every one in England to show their support for the 2018 World Cup bid by signing up in-store from March 8.
Morrisons has a strong presence in all 12 candidate host cities – Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield and Sunderland.
Commencing immediately, today’s announcement sees Morrisons become a partner of England 2018, the organisation leading the nation’s bid to bring the World’s biggest football spectacle to this country.
The partnership, which runs throughout the remainder of the bid process, was announced at Wembley Stadium by Morrisons Group Retail Director, Mark Gunter, Andy Anson, England 2018 Chief Executive and bid ambassadors including England legend, Alan Shearer.
Mark Gunter continues: “With our sporting store colleagues we are determined to demonstrate popular support for England’s bid by delivering more than two million signatures, showing FIFA the country’s passion and enthusiasm for hosting the world’s biggest football spectacle.”
Alan Shearer, former England star and bid ambassador said: “From talking to people both in football and outside the game, I know that there is massive enthusiasm for England’s bid right across the country. To have a company the size of Morrisons come on board as a commercial partner means that we will be able to demonstrate just how widespread that support is to the people that matter. I’d urge anyone who wants to see the FIFA World Cup held in England in 2018 to get down to their nearest Morrisons and sign up to show their support”.
Andy Anson, England 2018 bid Chief Executive, said: “Domestic support can play a vital role in helping to convince FIFA we would be worthy hosts of the 2018 World cup. Since our launch in May, the response of the public to the bid has been fantastic. We have a unique and heartfelt passion for football in this country and we want to be able to demonstrate this to the world. I am confident that our partnership with Morrisons, a truly nationwide company, will help us do this by gathering further support from millions of people right across the country.”
For more details on the partnership visit www.england2018bid.com