A Bristol Rovers legend is backing the bid to bring World Cup football to the city in 2018.

Alfie Biggs is second in the all-time list of goal scorers for the Pirates. In two spells between 1953 and 1961, and 1962 and 1968, the striker scored 199 goals in 473 appearances.

Biggs, 73, who now lives in Poole, said that he is delighted to be backing the bid to bring World Cup football to his home city.

When England last hosted the World Cup in 1966, the blond Knowle West native, known as 'The Baron of Eastville', was lucky enough to be in Wembley Stadium for the final.

He said: "I think having World Cup games in Bristol would mean everything for the city. It would be absolutely fabulous.

"The atmosphere will be first class. It can't lose.

"There's nothing comparable to hosting the World Cup. It's like the local football club getting into the cup and reaching the semi-finals.

"Nineteen sixty-six was like a new world. Everybody was so happy. It brought everybody together and the same will happen if England hosts the tournament again."

Biggs began his career at Rovers, starting out as a junior at the club before progressing to the first team in 1953 at the age of 17.

He played for the Gas for eight years before heading north to play for Preston North End for a season.

He returned to his home city in 1962 for a further six years. His final season as a professional footballer was 1968–69, when he spent time with Rovers, Walsall and Swansea Town. After this he dropped out of the league to play for Taunton Town.

After retiring from football, Biggs worked for the Post Office and also as a security guard at Bristol University.

Biggs remains a Rovers legend, maintaining his ties with the club and being known as a very affable and convivial conversationalist at post-match functions.

But his career could have been very different and he could have easily have been a star at Bristol City. As a youngster he was kept waiting, however, when he went to sign for the Robins, and instead took the bus up Fishponds Road to Eastville to sign for Rovers.