Big result for World Cup dream as legends praise tune

Bristol's own World Cup songsmith may face stiff competition from a rumoured remake of the 1990 hit World in Motion but he has received support from Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp.

Paul Hobbs, from Knowle, is wholly appreciative of the fact his song, England for Glory, is unlikely to trouble the charts, but his infectious enthusiasm to secure his catchy tune as England's anthem for their 2010 campaign is unrelenting and he is now being rewarded with wider recognition.

The 60-year-old, who now lives in Weston-super-Mare, has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity through his persuasive skills and has already roped in Bristol City chairman Steve Lansdown and Blackpool boss (and Bristol Rovers legend) Ian Holloway to help spread word of his song.

England for Glory has been played on Talksport as well as local radio and could shortly be echoing around Tottenham Hotspur's ground White Hart Lane.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp revealed in a letter to Mr Hobbs that he had played the CD in his office to staff and enjoyed listening to it.

"I will certainly see if we can try and get it played at the Lane one day," he wrote. "Good luck with your efforts to get it adopted by the Football Association."

Sir Alex Ferguson also took time out from managing the current domestic champions Manchester United to reply to Mr Hobbs.

"Congratulations on your CD," he wrote. "It sounds great and hopefully you will go all the way to fulfilling your dream."

The Football Association is yet to address the subject of England's World Cup song for South Africa 2010 but Hobbs' fellow Bristolian Justin Lee Collins of The Friday Night Show fame has been rumoured to be linking up with West Country favourites the Wurzels in an entertaining bid to garner support for the national team and other rumours abound of a link up with Simon Cowell's X Factor phenomenon.

Mr Hobbs though is happy simply to raise the profile of the West Country with his efforts, not least as Bristol is bidding to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup.

"It would just be great for the whole area," he told the Evening Post. "I just want the song to be out there and for people to enjoy singing it and supporting England.

"To have the World Cup come to us would be fantastic and the West Country would do it proud, we really would."