World Cup Flag |
| Last Update: 08 April 2002 |
Come On England! - Nation United Behind The Team
Sean lent his support to England's football team, which competed in the World Cup May 31 to June 30, 2002.
Sean provided a personal good luck message, which has been added to a giant St. George's Cross flag which travelled out to the World Cup in Japan and Korea.
The whole country was given a chance to sign the flag and get behind the England team. The initiative, which was undertaken by The Football Association and Official England Team Sponsor, Nationwide Building Society, aimed to create the world's biggest fans' flag.
Looking to harness the passion of the country's 20 million-plus football fans, the giant flag, which measured 20 x 10 metres, accommodated up to one million signatures of support from England well wishers. All fans had to do to back the team was go online here to register their details and leave a good luck message.
You could search for your own signature on the flag, and for others who had already signed. Sean's message is at coordinates 11 x 0.
From Robbie Williams to Bobby Robson and Denise Lewis, the worlds of sport and entertainment were unanimous in their passionate support of the England team. Celebrities from all walks of life united behind the team and also signed up for the campaign. At launch, celebrities such as Guy Ritchie, Mel C, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Bob Mortimer had already visited the website to leave messages of support.
A smaller version of the flag visited the UK's top sporting and entertainment events to elicit further celebrity support. All proceeds from the sale of the flag after the campaign went to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). (For more information about the NSPCC and to make a donation to the FULL STOP initiative, visit Lynn's Full of Beans site.
It was a huge task taking one million virtual signatures and printing them onto the flag in time for the tournament, so fans had from March 27th, although the site itself was geared towards taking messages of support right up until World Cup kick-off. As if they needed any extra incentive to get behind the team, fans also had the chance to win the prize of a lifetime and take the giant flag out to Japan to present to the team.
Sven Goran Eriksson, England Coach, said:
"This campaign is a magnificent way of symbolising the entire country's support for the national team. We will travel to the World Cup with wonderful support behind us. It will mean a lot to me and all the players."
About Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide is the world's largest Building Society and one of the biggest supporters of football in the UK.
Nationwide's Football Sponsorship package now includes the following:
For more details, visit Nationwide.
About The Football Association
The Football Association is the governing body of football in
England. It exists to develop and promote the game to men and
women, boys and girls, of any race or creed, throughout the country.
The F.A. is responsible for running the England Football Teams
at every level. For more details, visit the Football
Association.
About the National Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children
In addition to the NSPCC receiving the celebrity flag to auction
at the end of the campaign, The Football Association is supporting
the NSPCC
FULL STOP initiative. This is being realised by The FA donating
50p from each match programme sold at the Semi finals and Finals
of The Axa Sponsored FA Cup.
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