The message from the man in charge of next summer's World Cup is: "We must not forget about the fans".

There are just 212 days remaining until Africa hosts its first football World Cup.

Just 212 days until South Africa, successful at the second attempt in securing the tournament, erupts in celebration as the world's best footballers and their followers descend on the country.

And the organising committee have reiterated their deliberate choice to ensure the stadia, and therefore the celebrations, are spread as far as possible across the country to create a 'national impact', according to chief executive Dr Danny Jordaan, despite the transport and accommodation challenges.

By contrast, there are just 33 days until the England 2018 team make the decision on which venues will be included in England's bid to FIFA to stage the tournament in nine years time.

Bristol and the five million-strong population of the South West missed out in 1966 when England last won the right to stage the biggest sporting event in the world.

And this time they have a possible brand new stadium and improved transport links to bring to the table. All of which points to Bristol, as the gateway to the West Country, being key to ensuring England's bid supplies the nationwide fervour expected to take hold of South Africa come June 2010.

"We wanted to have a national impact of the event on the country," Dr Jordaan told the Bristol Evening Post during a flying visit to a tourism conference in east London this week.

"And so we took a position that, as far as possible, we had nine provinces, you would call them counties, and to have a presence in each one of them to ensure a national impact."

The committee eventually managed to cover eight of the nine South African provinces, with the 10 stadia selected.

Just the Northern Cape, the largest and least populated province (with just over a million people), lacks a stadium of its own.

Venues were selected after consideration of social, economic and technical criteria, and the ability of cities to maximise potential investment during next summer and as far ahead as 2020.

More than 100 million dollars of accommodation has already been booked according to Dr Jordaan, who says a wider geographical spread of venues will also encourage fans to tour around the country and extend their stay.

He was at Upton Park last Sunday, taking in the Premier League visit of Everton to West Ham, whose travelling fans struck a chord with him.

"It was wonderful to sit in the stadium and be among the football fans and see the passion," he said. "We must not forget that the World Cup is in essence about the teams and the fans. It is about their passion, their celebration of the sport. You have to take care of their interests as well."

The former politician has been working on the dream of staging the competition in his own country since 1994 and is now within touching distance of the tournament.

The draw in Cape Town on December 4 to decide the groups and the opening fixture for June 11 signals a transition from years preparing the infrastructure to 'event mode'.

"It is about getting the final touches of the operation in place," he said.

Final touches to ensure the safety and convenience of the travelling fans and tempt any English supporters who are still unsure as to their holiday plans next June to dig out their passports.

"The English fans must be there," he said. "The England fans add a special dimension to the World Cup. Wherever they go they bring only passion for the game.

"England fans must expect the best support we can possibly give them. The event we want is to have a party offering the best of Africa."

South Africa came within a whisker of winning the vote to host the 2006 tournament before losing out to Germany and having to go through the whole process again.

"Obviously there was fear and uncertainty as to what would happen," recalled Dr Jordaan. "But tremendous joy and excitement with Mandela there to embrace the fact that we became Africa's first country to host the World Cup.

"There are four special moments in (South Africa's) history," he explained.

"1990, when Nelson Mandela was released. 1994, the first democratic elections. And millions of people turned out to make the cross, including myself, for the first time in our lives.

"2004, when we won the right to host the World Cup. And 2010 when our team walks onto the pitch."

Second time round the South African bid team had the services of ex-Tottenham Hotspur and England legend Gary Mabbutt MBE, a long-standing friend of Dr Jordaan.

Mabbutt, a Bristolian who started his career with Bristol Rovers, is now an ambassador for the city and has been drawing on his significant experience working alongside Dr Jordaan to help the Bristol bid team shape their bid.

"I know he is hoping for Bristol to be included," said Jordaan.