THE world s best footballers could be playing at St Neots Town if England is awarded the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. The club s Rowley Park stadium has been announced as one of the four training bases for visiting international teams in Milton Keynes applic

THE world’s best footballers could be playing at St Neots Town if England is awarded the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

The club’s Rowley Park stadium has been announced as one of the four training bases for visiting international teams in Milton Keynes’ application to be a host city.

If Milton Keynes is accepted as part of a successful England World Cup bid, one of the world’s top international teams would be based in St Neots and train at Rowley Park for the duration of the tournament.

Club chairman John Delaney said the club had been working closely with the Milton Keynes bid for a number of months.

“It’s a fantastic coup for the club and for the community as a whole – to think that we could have Brazil or Argentina staying in St Neots and training at the stadium is incredible,” he said.

“Rowley Park has been chosen above a number of stadiums from the surrounding counties, many belonging to league clubs, as one of the four most prestigious venues in the catchment area.”

The team would be based in St Neots, and train at Rowley Park in between their group games at the MK Dons’ stadiummk.

The three other teams in the group would train at Northampton Town’s Sixfields, Rushden and Diamonds’ Nene Park and stadiummk.

Delaney added: “We are flattered to have been asked to participate in the bid and we feel that it is an indication of how our reputation is growing within the game.

“We know that the Milton Keynes bid team are bullish about their chances of being selected, so we are optimistic about our involvement.

“The bid has an innovative twist which we think will appeal – the last time England hosted the World Cup, Milton Keynes didn’t even exist.

“We know that there are several stages to complete before this could happen, but we are putting ourselves in a great position.

“The possibility of one of the best teams in the world being based at St Neots is really exciting – to think that just 20 years ago we were looking forward to playing in the Hunts League having just reformed the club, it’s unbelievable.”

After collaborating on the bid proposal, St Neots hope to develop links with MK Dons with development opportunities for youth team players and ground staff.

The FA will announce on December 16 if the Milton Keynes bid has been successful, with a decision on the host country being made by FIFA in December 2010.