Bristol's role in sporting history has been highlighted by staff at one of the world's engineering wonders as they added their support to the city's and England's 2018 football World Cup bid.

The ss Great Britain was the world's first great ocean liner and opened up the possibility for first class international sporting competition, ferrying the first "All England" cricket team to Australia.

The boat, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched in 1843, revolutionised travel while setting new standards in engineering.

And now staff at the ss Great Britain are hoping the world will come to Bristol if the city is selected to help host World Cup football in 2018.

The city would host four or five matches at the proposed new stadium in Ashton Vale and be transformed for a minimum of a month, with big screens in Ashton Court, Queen's Square, Eastville Park and on the Downs, as well as numerous stages and carnival-style celebrations throughout the Harbourside and city centre.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors would flock from across the South West and abroad to visit the city, with or without tickets, to soak up the vibe of a World Cup venue.

The ss Great Britain has already attracted more than five million visitors since it returned home in 1970, when it was towed into Bristol docks watched by the Duke of Edinburgh.

And the climax of the Ashes cricket series between England and Australia next week is a timely reminder of Bristol's role in the early tours of England's sportsmen.

It took the England cricket team two months to reach Australia in 1861 aboard the ss Great Britain and attempts at practice in the confined space resulted in a broken nose for one of the players.

They played 12 matches on arrival, winning six, losing two and drawing four, with the tour being such a success that they returned the following year, winning all 14 games.

Bristol Rovers fan Clayton Campbell, 26, from St Jude's, works in the technical services department for the ss Great Britain.

"I haven't been to any World Cups so it would be great to see top, top football in Bristol," he said.

His colleague, Jake Thomas, 22, from Stockwood said: "It would be amazing, the best experience bar visiting this boat!"

Martin Williamson, 32, from Long Ashton, dons the Mr Brunel costume daily to entertain visitors and was eager to extol the worldly connections of the ship and, accordingly, the historic importance of Bristol.

"It was described by a Victorian diarist Barclay Fox as 'the greatest thing since the creation'", he said. "It was 100ft longer than any previous ship, so it could take a lot of people safely across the oceans.

"It predates football and is a prime attraction for fans who come here to Bristol."

Australia is one of England's rivals to host the tournament in 2018 or 2022.