MR DENNIS HOWELL, BRITAIN'S MINISTER FOR SPORT, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TOURING ENGLAND, INSPECTING SITES FOR THE WORLD CUP FOOTBALL MATCHES TO BE PLAYED IN ENGLAND NEXT YEAR.IN 196 ENGLAND WILL BE MOST NATION.

DURING HIS TOUR, THE MINISTER HAS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORLD CUP TO LOCAL OFFICIALS AND HAS URGED THAT IT BE STAGED IN A MANNER WHICH WOULD REFLECT CREDIT NOT ONLY ON BRITISH FOOTBALL, BUT ON THE COUNTRY GENERALLY.

WHEN HE WAS AT HILLSBOROUGH, HOME GROUND OF THE SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY TEAM, MR HOWELL SAID HE DID NOT KNOW OF ANY CLUB GROUND IN ENGLAND THAT WAS, AT THE PRESENT TIME, IN A SATISFACTORY STATE TO STAGE WORLD CUP GAMES.HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT AT THE END OF HIS PRESENT WHISTLE-STOP TOUR, HE WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE WORK THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT TO BRING THE GROUND UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SERIES.