Oh Ambassador, You Spoil Us

Last updated : 29 May 2002 By Ed_ScottishFitba

Fergie makes his point
And so it came to pass...The mighty man from the north, that has shown the soft southerners a thing or two when it comes to football, has thrown his weight behind the joint Scottish/Irish bid for EURO2008. The support of Sir Alex Ferguson is a bit of a coup for the SFA/FAI in their efforts to persuade UEFA to let them stage the European Championships. He is known throughout the footballing world as a winner and not someone who will just go along for the ride. His contacts and willingness to sell the idea of EURO2008 coming here over the months leading up to the decision date in December will not go un-noticed.

His name can now be added to the high profile names from football and industry that endorse the bid. Ferguson was happy to sit alongside the team that have done the hard work when the bidding document was signed and sent of to UEFA. The newly appointed roving ambassador said: "
The Scottish and Irish supporters are magnificent ambassadors for their countries wherever they travel. Bringing the European Championship finals here would be the perfect reward for them and long overdue. I know that the two football associations and the Scottish and Irish governments are determined to deliver the best possible bid to the UEFA Executive Committee. I am delighted that they are both absolutely committed to securing the European Championships for Scotland and Ireland in 2008 and I am fully supportive of the bid."

Scottish Sports Minister Mike Watson could hardly contain his excitement as he welcomed Sir Alex's involvement on Radio Scotland this morning when he said: "
We are very pleased. It adds great weight to the bid. Everybody who knows anything about football knows about Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements."

The list of names that support the idea of the championships being hosted jointly by Scotland and Ireland grows nearly every day. Some of the following names you will recognise and some will be less familiar. However, in their own field's they are recognised as being astute and you do not get to their position by backing too many losers.

Dick Advocaat

Craig Brown

Ronald de Boer

Packie Bonner

Jack Charlton

Milo Corcoran
President FAI

Kenny Dalglish

Sir Alex Ferguson

Archie Gemmill

John Greig

Robbie Keane

Kevin Keegan


John C McGinn
President SFA

Mick McCarthy

Brendan Menton
General Manager FAI

Niall Quinn

Ebbe Skovdahl

David Taylor
Chief Executive SFA

Berti Vogts

Bertie Ahern
Taoiseach of Ireland

Rod Stewart


Robert Carlyle

Hugh Aitken
Chief Executive
Sun Micro Systems

Donal Dowds

Managing Director
BAA Scottish Airports

Bob Downes
Director British Telecom Scotland

Ian Good
Chairman and Chief Executive
of The Edrington Group

Sir Angus Grossart

Chairman/Managing Director
of Noble Grossart Ltd

Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden

Life President of Guinness UDV

Jack McConnell

First Minister of Scotland

Jim McDaid

Minister for Tourism,
Sport and Recreation
The Republic of Ireland

William Rae

Chief Constable
Strathclyde Police

Susan Rice

Chief Executive
Lloyds TSB Scotland

John Rocha

Designer

Brian Stewart

Chairman of Scottish & Newcastle

Mike Watson
Minister for Tourism,
Culture and Sport
Scotland



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