Jump to content

Great Britain Olympic football team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 176.253.21.133 (talk) at 01:39, 2 June 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Great Britain national football team" redirects here. For the full team of the United Kingdom, see United Kingdom national football team.
This article is about the Great Britain men's team. For the Great Britain women's team, see Great Britain women's Olympic football team.

Great Britain
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Team GB
AssociationThe FA (1908–1972; 2011–)
Head coachStuart Pearce[1]
CaptainVacant
First colours
Second colours
First international
United Kingdom Great Britain and Ireland 12 – 1 Sweden Sweden
(London; 20 October 1908)
Biggest win
United Kingdom Great Britain and Ireland 12 – 1 Sweden Sweden
(London; 20 October 1908)
Biggest defeat
Bulgaria Bulgaria 6 – 1 Great Britain United Kingdom
(Melbourne, Australia; 30 November 1956)
Olympic Games
Appearances8[2] (first in 1908)
Best resultGold: 1908,[2] 1912[2]
Olympic medal record
Men's Football
Gold medal – first place 1908 London Team
Gold medal – first place 1912 Stockholm[2] Team

The Great Britain Olympic football team (also known as Team GB; or occasionally Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or prior to 1922 as Great Britain and Ireland)[3][4] represents the United Kingdom in international football competitions in the Olympic Games. The selection is currently limited to players under the age of 23, although three overage players are allowed in the squad.[5] Prior to the 1984 Los Angeles Games, Olympic regulations limited the selection to amateur players only.[6]

The Great Britain football team first competed at the second Olympic football tournament, held at the 1908 Summer Olympics, and competed in or attempted to qualify for a further ten Olympic Games, up to and including the 1972 Games. The team was operated by the English Football Association (FA) as an off-shoot of the English national amateur football team for this period, though occasionally players from the rest of the UK competed for the team.[7] In 1974 the FA abolished the official distinction between amateur and professional players, and with the abandonment of the national amateur team, the Olympic side was also disbanded.

The Olympic football team has been reformed, again run by the FA, for the 2012 Olympic Games, which are to be hosted in London.[8][9] The team's coach is Stuart Pearce, who will be permitted to select players from across the UK,[1] although the national football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all oppose their players being selected for the team.[10] These associations fear that their independent status will be threatened by the presence of a team representing the entire United Kingdom in an international tournament.[10]

Pre-1972 team

Origins and composition

The FA was formed in London 1863, when thirteen teams met to draw up a shared rule list for football, in order to facilitate matches between clubs.[11] The question of the geographical remit of this organisation does not appear to have been asked, with the FA being formed before the rise of international football. The first football matches between national teams were arranged by the FA, who invited English and Scottish players to form representative teams.[11] The Scottish teams were made up almost entirely of Scottish residents in England and in order to encourage more Scottish based players to compete, an organisation in Scotland was sought to form the Scottish team.[11] For the 1872 game between Scotland and England in Glasgow, Queen's Park Football Club took on this role, and this game is now recognised as the first international match.[12] Within a year, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) was founded to facilitate these matches, and to organise football in Scotland more broadly. The third national football association, the Football Association of Wales was founded in 1876 and a fourth, the Irish Football Association, (IFA), was founded in 1880.

International football therefore developed with separate football associations selecting separate teams for each of the countries of the United Kingdom (also known as the home nations) and no 'United Kingdom football association' was ever formed. Outside of the UK, national associations were also formed which then picked the national teams. When football was held as a demonstration sport at the 1900 Olympic Games, club teams entered with Upton Park representing the UK. Upton Park won the gold medal, which has since been retrospectively awarded by the International Olympic Committee as a full gold. For the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the FA persuaded the IOC to include a football tournament, which they organised.[7] A team, made up entirely of English players, was entered.[13] Some sources continue to refer to this team as the England national amateur football team,[7] whilst others still simply label all participations as Great Britain.[14] Although the team competed as the United Kingdom and are listed as such, the official match report refers to "the English team".[15] An arrangement was reached with the other Home Nations' FAs, under which a Great Britain team consisting of amateur players organised by the FA would enter future tournaments.

The composition of this team varied over time. Squads were predominantly made up of English players, although in some years non-English players were involved.[16][17]

1908–1936

Great Britain won the first Olympics football tournament in 1908, which was hosted in London. The football tournament was organised by the FA and all the matches were played at White City Stadium.[18] Great Britain won all three of their matches, defeating Sweden and Netherlands in the first two rounds. They met Denmark in the final, defeating them 2–0 with goals from Vivian Woodward and Frederick Chapman.[19] The team repeated this success at the 1912 Games.[20][21] Again, Britain won all three matches and defeated Denmark in the final, this time 4–2. Woodward, who scored in the previous final, was captain for this tournament.[22]

At the 1920 Summer Games, Britain lost in the first round in a surprise defeat to Norway.[23] Britain had played only amateur players, while other nations selected their team from all available players.[24] The tournament formed part of a rift which developed between the FA, who wanted the Olympics to remain an amateur only competition, and FIFA, who were keen on having a full football world championship.[25] This resulted in the FA leaving FIFA, as well as withdrawing from the 1924 and 1928 football tournaments.[26] Eventually, however, an agreement was reached in which the Olympic football tournament would be for amateur players only, with the FIFA World Cup created to include all players, professional and amateur.[26]

There was no football tournament at the 1932 games, so Britain's return to Olympic football came at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Great Britain were defeated in the quarter-finals, losing 5–4 to Poland.[27]

1948–1970

Following the Second World War, Great Britain competed in all Olympic football tournaments from 1948 through to 1972. The 1948 tournament, which was hosted in London, was the team's most successful. By this time, it was recognised that Britain's amateur players were not of the same quality as they had been in earlier years, due to the rise of the professional game.[28] By contrast, teams in nations which had not yet developed professional leagues were able to field their strongest sides.[28] Manager Matt Busby picked a squad made up of players from all of the 'home nations',[28] and Britain progressed to the semi-final with wins over the Netherlands and France. Having lost the semi-final to Yugoslavia, Britain once again faced Denmark. This time, however, they were defeated 5–3 and missed out on a bronze medal.[29] Wembley Stadium hosted Great Britain's final two matches, though they also played at Craven Cottage and Highbury.

After 1948, Great Britain were never a significant threat at the Olympics again. They were eliminated after losing their opening match to Luxembourg in 1952, and lost in the quarter-finals in 1956 to Bulgaria. Their final appearance at an Olympic Games came in 1960.[30] The squad was again selected from all of the home nations, with matches between the national amateur sides being used to chose a best 19.[30] Great Britain were eliminated in the first round, losing one, drawing one and winning one of their three matches.[30] After that Great Britain failed to qualify for the next three Olympics, with their final match being a 5–0 qualifying round defeat by Bulgaria[20] in 1971 following a 1–0 victory at Wembley Stadium against the same team.[31]

In 1974, the Football Association stopped recognising a distinction between professionals and amateurs, with all player subsequently registered simply as 'players', whether paid or unpaid.[32] This ended the existence of the England national amateur football team, which had always been the basis for the British Olympic team. As such, the FA stopped entering a football team into Olympic competition.

1972 to 2008

For the 1984 Summer Olympics, professional footballers were allowed to compete at the Olympics for the first time,[6] an event which occurred alongside the wider commercialisation of the Olympic Games.[33] Initially, European and South American teams were banned from playing players who had competed in the FIFA World Cup, but from the 1992 Summer Olympics eligibility for all nations was restricted to players aged under 23, except that three players of any age are allowed in the squad.[6]

Despite these changes, no team has represented Great Britain at the Olympic Football Tournament since 1960. In Europe, the qualification for the Olympic Football Tournament is the UEFA Under–21 Championship, which each of the Home Nations enter. On three occasions, teams from Great Britain have finished in the qualifying positions:

The British Olympic Association initially refused to rule out the possibility of entry for the 2008 Summer Olympics,[34] but a team was not entered. England qualified for the Olympics by reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 Under–21 Championship, but Italy took their vacated place by winning a play-off match against Portugal. The England women's team also qualified for the 2008 Olympics, through their performance in the 2007 World Cup. They were denied a place at the Olympics because the other three Home Nations refused to give their consent.[35]

London 2012

Reformation of team

Due to London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the United Kingdom gained the right to enter a team in the football tournament as host nation.[8] The tournament is an under-23 competition, but three players older than twenty-two can be included in the team.[36]

The British Olympic Association stated it would enter a football team,[8] but the Scottish Football Association refused even to attend meetings at which the Home Nations were to discuss the possibility[37] and the Football Association of Wales withdrew from the negotiations.[38] In October 2007 the Irish Football Association (the association for Northern Ireland) also announced that they would not take part in a unified team, leaving the English FA as the only association willing to take part.

The SFA's opposition to the plans were rooted primarily in the fear that the Home Nations would be forced to field a combined team in all competitions.[37] This would mean the loss of the special status of the Home Nations, established under FIFA's constitution.[39]

The FA released a supporters' shirt for fans of Team GB

Various fans, politicians and sports-people all gave their opinions with regards to the creation of a team. A 2005 opinion poll published by the British Olympic Association claimed that a majority of Scots supported the creation of a team for the 2012 Olympics.[40] A joint statement issued by the official fan clubs of all four Home Nations voiced their opposition to the plan.[41] Various prominent politicians also offered their opinion as to whether there should be a British team in the 2012 Olympics. Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated during the 2008 Olympics that he wanted a British team and would work towards that happening, although he acknowledged that it could affect the autonomy of the Home Nations.[42] First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond then stated his opposition to a British team, arguing that Brown must be "seriously out of touch with Scotland" to support it.[43]

FIFA President Sepp Blatter's view was seen as important. He had given assurances to each of the British Associations that their status would not be affected by fielding a combined team in 2012.[44] The SFA refused to change its position, arguing that Blatter's personal opinion and permission might not matter once he has left office, and that they did not wish to jeopardise their status.[37] Blatter seemed to change his view in March 2008, when he stated that "they should enter only a team composed of players from England"[45] and he suggested that the independent status of the four British associations could be harmed by a unified team.[45] UEFA chief executive David Taylor, a former chief executive of the SFA, said in August 2008 that a British Olympic team would threaten the existence of the individual home nations.[46] Taylor also said that the unique status of the Home Nations had come under attack before from other FIFA members, and that it was "difficult to see what guarantees could be given" to protect that status.[46] At a conference held in conjunction with the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan, the prospect of a UK team for the 2012 Olympics was discussed by the FIFA Executive Committee, who gave their approval.[47]

The executive committee confirmed that the participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games of a single team representing Great Britain would not affect the existing individual status of the four British football associations. For the Olympic Games, they have to play in one entity. The ball is now in their turf..We expect a solution that will be presented to us for the month of March.[47]

From the world of sport, world 400m hurdles champion Dai Greene spoke in opposition to Team GB.[48] Greene said that he felt that there should not be an Olympic football tournament because it is not the pinnacle of that sport.[48] He also expressed fears that coverage of the football team would overshadow interest in the other competitors.[48] Sebastian Coe, the director of the 2012 Olympics, regularly spoke out in support of the team.[49]

A compromise was eventually reached between the four associations, whereby a squad of English players only would represent the United Kingdom.[9] The football associations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales sent a joint letter to FIFA stating that they would not participate, but that they would not object to England participating alone.[9] This agreement was challenged by the British Olympic Association, who wanted to select players from all four countries and claimed it would be potentially discriminatory to only select English players.[10] Jim Boyce has commented that there is no legal restriction on players being selected by the BOA[10] and the Scottish FA has admitted that it would have no legal grounds to prevent Scottish players from participating.[50] It has been confirmed that the FA intends on selecting players from across the UK.[51] Eligible non-English players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey have expressed their desire to play in the squad, having gone as far as to pose for a photo-shoot wearing the replica shirts of the team.[52]

Pre-tournament preparations

The FA announced in October 2011 that Stuart Pearce would be the head coach. The team is expected to play two friendlies in 2012, prior to the Olympic tournament.[53] After this announcement, Pearce drew up an initial long-list of players who he wanted to consider for the squad, and wrote to all of these players to inform them of his choice.[54] At the time, Pearce has said that players who did not want to be included would be able to inform him of their wishes at that stage.[54] It was confirmed in December 2011 that none of the players who are called into the England national football team squad for the 2012 UEFA European Championships will be selected, in order to avoid player fatigue.[55] Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace amongst other clubs,[56] stated that some of their players had been invited for possible selection, confirming that Scottish players had been amongst those invited.[57] In January 2012, it was revealed that 191 players had been contacted, with 7 declining to be considered for the team.[58] A further cut was announced in April 2012, with the shortlist of eligible players reduced to around 80.[59]

Forthcoming fixtures

See also: Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament

Great Britain were placed in group A for the Olympic tournament prior to the draw.[60] The draw was held on 24 April 2012 and added Uruguay, UAE and Senegal to Great Britain's group.[61] Two days after the draw, it was announced that Great Britain's single warm-up game prior to the start of the tournament would be against Brazil at the Riverside Stadium on the 20th July.[62] This will be Great Britain's first game since the May 1971 defeat to Bulgaria.[63]

20 July 2012 Friendly
match		 Great Britain  v  Brazil Middlesbrough
Stadium: Riverside Stadium
26 July 2012 2012 Olympics
Preliminaries		 Great Britain  v  Senegal Manchester
Stadium: Old Trafford
29 July 2012 2012 Olympics
Preliminaries		 Great Britain  v  United Arab Emirates London
Stadium: Wembley Stadium
1 August 2012 2012 Olympics
Preliminaries		 Great Britain  v  Uruguay Cardiff
Stadium: Millennium Stadium

Olympic record, coaches and squads

1908 Great Britain and Ireland Olympic Football team
Olympics record
Year Coach[64] Squad Round Position GP W D L GS GA
France 1900 Did not enter
Upton Park F.C. represented GB
United States 1904 Did not enter
United Kingdom 1908 Alfred Davis 1908 squad Gold medal 1 3 3 0 0 18 1
Sweden 1912 Adrian Birch 1912 squad Gold medal 1 3 3 0 0 15 2
Belgium 1920 George Latham 1920 squad Round 1 - 1 0 0 1 1 3
France 1924 Withdrew
Netherlands 1928
Germany 1936 William Voisey 1936 squad Quarter-finals - 2 1 0 1 6 5
United Kingdom 1948 Matt Busby 1948 squad Fourth place 4 4 2 0 2 7 11
Finland 1952 Walter Winterbottom 1952 squad Preliminary round - 1 0 0 1 3 5
Australia 1956 Norman Creek 1956 squad Quarter-finals - 1 0 0 1 1 6
Italy 1960 1960 squad Round 1 - 3 1 1 1 8 8
Japan 1964 Charles Hughes Did not qualify
Mexico 1968
Germany 1972
Canada 1976 Did not enter
Soviet Union 1980
United States 1984
South Korea 1988
Spain 1992
United States 1996
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012 Stuart Pearce[1] Qualified as host – – – – – – –
Total 9/25 3 medals 20 11 2 7 53 36

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c "Stuart Pearce and Hope Powell to lead GB Olympic teams". BBC Sport. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d In some years, notably 1908, 1912 and 1956, the Great Britain Olympic team was the England national amateur football team playing in the colours of the United Kingdom. Sources differ as to whether this team should be considered a GB team or an England national team
  3. ^ The United Kingdom competes at the Olympic Games under the name Great Britain. "Great Britain". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  4. ^ Athletes from Northern Ireland, which forms part of the United Kingdom, may compete for either Ireland or Great Britain."Minister urges BOA to change 'erroneous Team GB name'". BBC News. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Scots deny GB Olympic football team agreement is close". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Olympic Football Tournament (men)" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Scoring for Britain Beck, Peter J. 1999; Routledge: 55
  8. ^ a b c 'GB football team to enter Games', BBC Sport, 30 September 2006.
  9. ^ a b c Nations pave way for 2012 GB team, BBC Sport, 29 May 2009.
  10. ^ a b c d "London 2012 Olympics: Gareth Bale and non-English players have 'legal right' to play for Team GB". Daily Telegraph. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  11. ^ a b c "History of The FA". The FA. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  12. ^ Paul Mitchell. "The first international football match". BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  13. ^ Football at the 1908 London Olympics Sports-Reference.com
  14. ^ Football Tournament of the Olympic Games – Overview RSSF. Retrieved 12–12–08.
  15. ^ Template:PDF . The British Olympic Council, 1908. Accessed 10–11–11
  16. ^ Ronnie Simpson, www.sports-reference.com
  17. ^ Modest Hopes of British XI at Melbourne The Times; 15 November 1956; Subscription
  18. ^ 1908 Olympic Football: The First World Cup More Than Mind Games. Accessed 10–11–11
  19. ^ I Olympic Football Tournament (London 1908) Linguasport. Accessed 10–11–11
  20. ^ a b "Happy to discuss Olympic team". The Football Association. 10 July 2003. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  21. ^ Games of the IV Olympiad. Aarhus, Lars; RSSSF, 15 October 1999. Retrieved on 5 July 2006.
  22. ^ II Olympic Football Tournament (Stockholm 1912) Linguasport. Accessed 10–11–11
  23. ^ "Antwerp, 1920". FIFA. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  24. ^ Beck, Peter J. (1999). Scoring for Britain: International Football and International Politics, 1900–1939. London: Frank Cass Publishers. ISBN 1368-9789. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  25. ^ "History of FIFA – The first FIFA World Cup™". FIFA. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  26. ^ a b Arnold, A.J. Tony. 2004. Harnessing the Forces of Commercialism: The Financial Development of the Football Association, 1863–1975 Sport in Society 7 (2) 232–248. Accessed 10–04–10, subscription required
  27. ^ "Olympic Football Tournament Berlin 1936, Match Report, Poland-Great Britain". FIFA. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  28. ^ a b c Dee, Mac (9 July 1948). "Busby Will Get Best Out of Amateurs". Sporting Mirror. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  29. ^ VII Olympic Football Tournament (London 1948) Linguasport. Accessed 10–11–11
  30. ^ a b c Plunkett, Paul. "London 2012: GB team at 1960 Games united by love of football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  31. ^ "OTD: Football Olympians – The GB Olympic team played its last 'home' fixture on this day in 1971". The FA. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  32. ^ Chapman, Mark. "About The Project". England's Amateurs. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  33. ^ Tomlinson, Alan. "The commercialization of the Olympics: Cities, corporations and the Olympic commodity" (PDF). University of Brighton. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  34. ^ "Britain looks to Beijing after Scotland's snub to 2012 Games". Goodbody, John; The Times, 12 November 2005. Retrieved on 5 July 2006.
  35. ^ Caborn blasts women's Games snub, BBC Sport, 4 December 2007.
  36. ^ Lisi, Clemente (20 February 2012). "Team Great Britain' for Olympics a Farce". www.realclearsports.com. Retrieved February 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  37. ^ a b c No Scots for GB Olympic football, BBC Sport, 11 November 2005.
  38. ^ Wales oppose GB Olympic football, BBC Sport, 6 December 2005.
  39. ^ Template:PDFlink. FIFA, 12 September 2005. Retrieved on 5 July 2006.
  40. ^ Mackay, Duncan. Survey shows Scots back united Olympic team, The Guardian, 20 October 2005.
  41. ^ "FANS GROUPS OPPOSE GB OLYMPIC TEAM". www.noteamgb.com. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
  42. ^ Brown pays tribute to GB success, BBC Sport, 24 August 2008.
  43. ^ Salmond rejects UK football team, BBC News, 25 August 2008.
  44. ^ Smith 'excited' by Olympic team, BBC Sport, 2 September 2005.
  45. ^ a b Blatter against British 2012 team, BBC Sport, 9 March 2008.
  46. ^ a b Uefa chief warns against GB team, BBC Sport, 28 August 2008.
  47. ^ a b GB football team gets Fifa assent , BBC Sport, 20 December 2008.
  48. ^ a b c "Dai Greene believes football has 'no place' at Olympics". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  49. ^ Williams, Dan. "Exclusive – Olympics chief Seb Coe on GB football team". ESPN. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  50. ^ "Great Britain Olympic football team agreement close". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  51. ^ "London 2012: Stuart Pearce and Hope Powell to lead GB teams". BBC Sport. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  52. ^ "Bale and Ramsey barracked over team GB after 4–1 win over Norway Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2060831/Gareth-Bale-Aaron-Ramsey-barracked-team-GB-4-1-win-Norway.html#ixzz1gyprH9XW". London: Daily Mail. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  53. ^ "Stuart Pearce will be inspirational as GB football coach – Steven Taylor". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  54. ^ a b Edwards, Luke (24 November 2011). "David Beckham on Stuart Pearce's list for London 2012 Olympics football team selection". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  55. ^ "Team GB selection policy". The FA. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  56. ^ "Duo Nominated For GB Long-List". Crystal Palace FC. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  57. ^ "Celtic trio receive Team GB Olympic invites". BBC News. BBC. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
  58. ^ "Ryan Giggs and David Beckham keen to play for Olympic football team". The Press Association. London: The Guardian. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  59. ^ "Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy included in Olympics Team GB shortlist". Wales Online. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  60. ^ "GB Olympic football teams to play in Manchester, London and Cardiff". http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/15674327. BBC Sport. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |work= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  61. ^ "Team GB draw Uruguay, United Arab Emirates and Senegal for Olympics". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  62. ^ "London 2012: Team GB announce Olympic warm-ups". BBC News. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  63. ^ XIII Olympic Football Tournament (Qualifying Stage) - linguasport.com
  64. ^ Stuart Pearce joins an illustrious list of GB managers When Saturday Comes 18–01–11. Accessed 20–01–11.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Britain_Olympic_football_team&oldid=495550589"