Bristol Rovers first team coach Paul Trollope took a moment out of the Pirates' final pre-season preparations this week to add his support to Bristol's 2018 World Cup bid.

And Rovers fans are being won over too, despite initial concerns about the bid, with some quarters viewing it as too intrinsically linked with cross-town rivals Bristol City whose proposed new stadium would host the matches.

Bristol Rovers open their Coca-Cola League One account at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday and 2018 may seem like a world away, but the gap since 1966 and the last time England hosted World Cup football seems even longer, says Trollope.

"It would be great for the city," said Trollope. "I think the country needs it because in my opinion it has been too long since England last hosted it.

"If we could bring it to Bristol, it would be a fantastic thing for the region and good for both of the clubs."

Members of the Gas Independent Fans' Trust (GIFT) and a representative from the Bristol Rovers Supporters' Club attended a meeting with the Bristol 2018 bid team last month at which members of the Bristol City Supporters' Trust were also present.

A report of the meeting prepared by GIFT said: "The members approached the evening with some degree of scepticism about the bid.

"In order to ensure that Rovers' fans views were adequately represented, GIFT had prepared a document in advance capturing a selection of comments from the two main Rovers' message boards in order to highlight the issues that Rovers' fans had with the bid.

"In short, we felt that there was a three-way split in what our supporters were saying:

1. Those that supported the bid because they believed it would be good for Bristol and because City will get their new stadium anyway.

2. Those who were against the bid because it would only be of benefit to BCFC and they didn't see anything in it for Rovers.

3. Those who didn't really care either way.

"We stated that the majority of supporters were currently in the number 2 camp, with it being viewed by Gasheads as a Bristol City bid for the 2018 World Cup rather than a Bristol bid.

"However, many things were said during the session that corrected some of these opinions.

"Firstly, the bid is about providing a football festival for 31 days in Bristol during the World Cup in 2018, not just the six or so hours of matches at Ashton Vale. The fan parks, associated music and football events are a key element of this.

"Secondly, both the bid period for Bristol as part of the England bid and the England bid to FIFA is meant to promote football within the community of Bristol and surrounding areas. If the England/Bristol bid is successful this community involvement will continue for the whole time period up until 2018.

"Thirdly, and most importantly, the Bristol bid team see Bristol Rovers and the support base as an integral part of the bid. Some of the ideas discussed were the community involvement of both Football in the Community and Study Centre at Rovers, potential use of the redeveloped Memorial Stadium for both fan accommodation (500 student beds available for the period of the tournament) and as a training centre (security of training centres is vital and a stadium provides this) and siting of fan parks in what might be perceived as Rovers' 'territory'.

"The question is do football supporters want to see a 31-day football festival in Milton Keynes or Bristol? Yes, it is going to be difficult to ignore the fact it would be City's stadium being used, but think of the 31-day versus six-hour opportunity in 2018 and the chance to develop football in the Bristol community over the next nine years to the benefit of both clubs."

Jim Chappell, chairman of the Rovers' other fan body, the Bristol Rovers Supporters' Club, is similarly behind the bid.

He told the Bristol Evening Post: "It would be great if it comes to Bristol and I hope the Rovers can be involved in some way.

"I'm sure our members would want to go to see the games, even if it is at City's ground.

"I've been to World Cup qualifiers at Wembley and Welsh matches in Cardiff, which are usually a lot cheaper. And it would be great to go see international football in Bristol and have venues with big screens all around the city."

Numerous fans from both clubs in the city have already signed up to support Bristol's bid.