By Martin Walker
Newtonian Jason Steele has been named in Stuart Pearce’s Team GB squad for this summer’s Olympic Games.
The announcement was made today at Wembley Stadium in London, which will host the gold medal match on August 11.
Steele, an Aycliffe lad, this afternoon Tweeted “really honoured and privileged to be named in the squad! Let’s get gold!!!”.
The Middlesbrough goalkeeper will join Welshmen Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy in the 18-man squad.
London 2012 marks the first time Team GB will compete in the men’s football competition since the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, where they finished third in their group. They will kick off their campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford in Manchester on July 26.
The match takes place on the first day of competitive action in the men’s football tournament, and a day before the Opening Ceremony.
Team GB will also take on the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on July 29, before completing their group stage fixtures against Uruguay – who qualified for London 2012 ahead of reigning gold medallists Argentina – at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on August 1.
The full squad is: Joe Allen (Swansea), Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Steven Caulker (Spurs), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Craig Dawson (West Brom), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Danny Rose (Spurs), Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Jason Steele (Boro), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Neil Taylor (Swansea), James Tomkins (West Ham).
In line with Olympic regulations, the squad contains just three players aged over 23, with Welshmen Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy joined by English defender Micah Richards.
Wales captain and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is included in the squad and he is joined by promising Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley.
Manager Pearce said: “It has not been an easy task to finalise my squad for this tournament, and the stature of the competition and uniqueness of the occasion has underlined the importance of every choice I have made.
“With just 18 places it is very different from other international tournaments, the options are limited, but it is the Olympic Games and every player in this squad should be very proud they have a chance to compete for a gold medal on home soil.
“I remember the huge advantage we gained from playing in front of our own fans during Euro ’96, and I’m sure with the nation behind us it could be a fantastic tournament for us.”
Pearce will take control of his first match with Team GB when they meet Brazil in a warm-up fixture at Boro’s Riverside Stadium on Friday July 20.
Aycliffe Today will bring you more on this story later…
