Leaders in Football, taking place at Chelsea on 7th and 8th October 2009, is proud to announce that Andy Anson, CEO, England’s 2018 World Cup Bid Committee will be delivering a exclusive presentation on the merits and challenges of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup and the detailed planning and preparations that need to be delivered ahead of the announcement in late 2010.

Recently appointed in January 2009, Anson was previously the Commercial Director at Manchester United and, most recently, the chief executive of the European division of the Association of Tennis Professionals. Now he is the is seen as the person to unite the football family in England behind a coordinated World Cup bid where confidence replaces the arrogance of the 2006 bid and winning the right to host the World Cup is seen as an opportunity for England to embrace the world.

“We have fantastic infrastructure already in place – including some of the best and most famous stadia in world football – but that alone will not be enough. We cannot afford to sit back and expect success. We will have to work extremely hard to show the world that England is the place for the World Cup in 2018 and I’m delighted I shall be playing my part” Anson recently stated.

England’s success will depend on the ability of Anson and his colleagues to win the politics at FIFA and with Spanish and Russian bids capable of splitting the European vote and Australia and the USA quietly compiling strong offerings, Anson’s challenge is formidable.

Anson’s presentation comes on the back of a host of other high profile speakers from around the world including Jeremy Darroch, CEO of BSkyB; Jack Warner the President of Concacaf; Andy Roxburgh, Technical Director, UEFA; Sunil Gulati, President, United States Soccer Federation; Lord Triesman, Chairman, The Football Association; Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG and Lord Mawhinney, Chairman of The Football League.

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