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Coronation Street star William Roache supports Derby's World Cup bidHE may have only spent his boyhood days in Derbyshire but William Roache said his heart "had always been with Derby" and it would be an "excellent" place to stage the World Cup.
Born in Ilkeston in 1932, he left his home town to embark on a career that would see him star in the world's longest-running soap opera for more than four decades.
The 77-year-old is the longest-serving actor Coronation Street's as well as the programme's only original cast member.
But William, who plays Ken Barlow, has never forgotten his roots and in 2002, he was given an honorary master of arts degree by the University of Derby.
Four years later, he returned to the county to open a fair at his former school, Michael House, in Shipley.
He thinks of Derbyshire as an attractive and comfortable place, which is why he is backing Derby's bid to host the World Cup.
William said: "Derby is an excellent place to stage the World Cup for many different reasons. It's in the middle of the country, which makes it easily accessible to the rest of the country and it has a nice stadium for the matches.
"Derby itself always seemed a nice, friendly place as I remember it, back when it was a town. The county itself is also very pleasant, convenient and attractive, which would make it very welcoming for visitors from across the world.
"I've never really followed football much but my heart has always been with Derby and I wish the city and county luck with its bid."
Derby is among 16 cities competing for the right to stage some of World Cup competition's matches in either 2018 or 2022.
But the Football Association, which is compiling England's bid to host the tournament for the first time since it came to these shores in 1966, is only looking for 12 venues. Each city must submit its final bid towards the end of next month, with a decision on which will be included in England's campaign expected to be made in December.
The FA will then present the country's case to football's world governing body, FIFA, which will decide in December next year where the 2018 and 2022 competitions will be held.
William said: "I remember as a child when Derby won the 1946 FA Cup and the excitement it generated around the whole area.
"The passion for the game always seemed so strong then and I'm sure it will very much be the same now.
"The World Cup is one of those major events that most people will tune into at some point. I'm more of a rugby and cricket fanatic but I still find myself following it."
Derby's bid team is made up of representatives from Derby County, the city and county councils, Marketing Derby and the University of Derby, among others.
The group has already welcomed the FA to Derby twice to assess the city's case. If picked, the city could benefit from up to £200m of investment over the next 10 years.
