An enterprising Bristol teacher who loves his football has enlisted Facebook to try and help the city's chances of becoming a host venue for the 2018 World Cup.

Spotting other cities were garnering support on the social networking site, 28-year-old David Andrews set up a rival group to back Bristol and has already attracted nearly 2,000 members.

Mr Andrews, a special needs teacher who works at Kings Weston school and lives in Patchway, is like many other football fans in Bristol – obsessed with the sport and excited at the prospect of the World Cup coming to his home town.

Bristol is in the running with 15 other English cities to become a host venue in England's bid to win the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

With a major new stadium in the pipeline and a unique geographical location, the city would appear to be well positioned to challenge for a place in football history and the possibility of hosting up to five World Cup games.

The England 2018 bid team will make a decision on host venues in December and the levels of support registered from each candidate will make a difference.

With two Football League clubs each taking sold out ticket allocations for their respective Wembley appearances in the past couple of years, there is a hotbed of support in the region, which missed out on the 1966 World Cup and 1996 European Championships.

Mr Andrews said: "I think it's nice to show there's football outside London and the North West. People don't really think of Bristol as a football city but we've got two strong teams.

"I was meant to be doing preparation for the start of the school term and I got distracted thinking about the World Cup. I was on Facebook and there's loads of groups on there but no official one for Bristol.

"Once I set it up it has snowballed. It is open to everyone and they can chat and join in."

Derby, Sunderland and Leicester have Facebook groups with more members but, as Mr Andrews notes on his site, Bristol is reeling them in and he is appealing for your help to make it happen.

He has not made it to a World Cup before, and with two small children, sees 2018 as his best hope of witnessing one in the near future.

"I don't know how many opportunities you will get in your lifetime to see World Cup football in your own city," he said.

It's a point that has united his family. Mr Andrews is a Bristol City fan while his younger brother John, 26, backs Bristol Rovers. They enjoy a lot of banter but both are now firmly fighting for the same cause and behind Bristol's bid.

"My brother's also a member of the group and there are a number of Rovers fans on there," said Mr Andrews. "It's not a club issue, it is something for the whole of Bristol."

The same applies to the fans of the rival nations competing in World Cup tournaments. One of the lasting memories for those who have travelled to previous World Cups is the interaction of the fans of all nationalities in the bars and on the open spaces of the host cities.

"In 2018 my son will be nine," said Mr Andrews. "My first World Cup memories are from Italia 90, when I was the same age.

"I'm not sure I can put him through the same heartache of watching England but for him to witness World Cup matches in Bristol would be sensational and stay with him for the rest of his life."

● Get online and show your support for your city. Sign up to the Facebook group Bring the 2018 World Cup to Bristol and register your vote with the FA via thisisbristol.co.uk/worldcup.