Bristol's participation as a host venue in the 2018 World Cup would create a "gold rush", according to former Bristol Rovers and England youth team midfielder Jamie Shore.

Picture Wimbledon, picture the Ashes, says the 32-year-old Bristolian who now runs a successful football academy in the city.

The World Cup eclipses both many times over, he points out, in terms of size and fervour, and opportunity for local businesses. And that is why fans are clamouring for it to come to Bristol.

Starved of top-flight football since the late 1970s, football lovers in the city would lap up the international action – and it could prove a spur for Bristol's phenomenal enthusiasm for football on the local pitches and parks to be replicated in increased attendance figures at Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, which could in turn bring more success on the pitch.

At the tender age of 17, Shore became the youngest player to sign professional forms for Norwich City after graduating from the Football Association's school of excellence at Lilleshall, alongside the likes of Liverpool's Jamie Carragher.

These were the days when Norwich were third in the Premiership and their academy set-up such that the young Shore turned down advances from Manchester United to sign on at Carrow Road.

Just five weeks later though, a serious knee injury in a youth match against Arsenal curtailed his widely-heralded promise.

It ultimately led to his early retirement from the game at 24 – after a brief comeback at Bristol Rovers, with five goals in 29 appearances before his injury dictated retirement.

Shore's honours with England Under-16s gave the young player a taste for international action though, which was never to be sated as a professional, but he could yet enjoy the full monty as a fan, and in his home town, if Bristol is picked for 2018.

The city is one of 16 in England applying to be included as a host venue in England's bid to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, and if selected could see up to five matches in the West Country, as well as several teams based here for the duration of the tournament.

"I played in the UEFA Youth Championships for England in Dublin and it was nothing compared to the World Cup, but it was still huge," Shore told the Evening Post.

"It is incomprehensible how big the World Cup is. For the fans, the local economy as a whole, all the people who would come here… It would be a real cross-border environment.

"I live just off Whiteladies Road and I know I would not be getting much sleep."

One of the other key benefits in Shore's eyes would be to awaken the city's own appetite for top level football. Bristol City graced the top tier of the English game at the end of the Seventies, but since then neither club has reached those heights.

The desire for a higher level of football is tangible in the region, and with World Cup host city status would come the best players in the world.

When Rovers reached the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final in 2007 and when City made the Championship play-off final in 2008, both clubs filled their Wembley quotas and in Rovers' case set a new record in the process. The passion is there, waiting to be tapped into.

"Cornwall and parts of the South West are like the back of beyond to the Premier League," said Shore. "People this way don't seem to get that level of football on a regular basis and so, from a supporter's view point as well, it would raise the profile of sport in this area. It is played a lot, but people don't go and watch football to the same degree.

"There are loads of grass roots and amateur leagues around Bristol. Having World Cup matches in Bristol would stop everyone in their tracks and it would be a gold rush.

"It's going to be great for football in general," added Shore. "It's our national game. If you think of Wimbledon fever, the Ashes... If you think how big that is, then think how big the World Cup would be."

Now involved in coaching, Shore is particularly excited by the impact such a presence would have on his young charges.

"The biggest thing about football is that we create a new generation of home-grown talent," he said. "When Wimbledon comes on everybody gets out with their tennis rackets. The World Cup does the same. And having it on your doorstep, well, that's another level entirely.

"I hope the (England 2018) team don't deny any area a venue so everyone can have a piece of the party. We don't want to exclude anyone."

To register your support for Bristol and the West Country to be part of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup go to www.thisisbristol.co.uk/worldcup or www.bristol2018.net.