INTERNATIONAL football teams such as Germany, Brazil and Argentina could be training in Tavistock if England is selected to host the World Cup in 2018.

Tavistock's dream to put its premier football facilities on the world stage came a step closer last week with the announcement that Plymouth had been chosen as one of the host cities for the World Cup bid.

The pitches at Crowndale were included in the bid as training facilities. Plymouth will now join forces with London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham , Nottingham, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle, Sunderland and Milton Keynes to help bring the finals to England in 2018.

Chairman of Tavistock Football Club Derek Pethick said Tavistock had been added at the eleventh hour and it was testament to the quality of the facilities.

Three new pitches and state of the art changing facilities have been provided at Crowndale, costing £1.4-million, in addition to the FA standard pitches already existing in the town. 'If England is successful the impact here will be incredible,' said Mr Pethick. 'It will put Tavistock on the football map.'

World cup teams will be put into a hat and selected to practice on different training grounds. International football stars having a kick around in Tavistock could become a familiar sight.

'The amount of people who will take up the game on the back of something like this will be amazing,' added Mr Pethick. 'I think every kid in the county will want to play football.

'We have to wait until next December to know who will host the World Cup so we will be keeping our fingers and everything else crossed.'

Tavistock Community Football Club has been working for 15 years to get the new facilities in the town and being involved in the World Cup would be the icing on the cake, said chairperson Sue Hammond.

'For local kids to watch a World Cup team practicing on the pitches here would be just fantastic.

'They would never have this opportunity otherwise. It's brilliant and it highlights the standard of the new facilities which we have here, which are world class.'

Plymouth's bid to host World Cup games included a £50-million transformation of Plymouth Argyle's Home Park ground with a new look stadium which will house 46,000 spectators.

The team behind the bid congratulated the people of Devon and Cornwall who helped Plymouth in its efforts to be selected.

Plymouth Argyle executive director Keith Todd said: 'The legacy this will leave for the South West economically, socially and for football across the entire region will be phenomenal.

'FIFA, I know, will like that and when they come and visit next year. Plymouth will add hugely to England's bid.'