By Martin Walker
The hope of making history is still burning within Jason Steele after he was included in a 35-man provisional squad for Team GB.
Head coach Stuart Pearce trimmed his squad from 80 to 35 over the last few days and Steele survived the cull, keeping him in line to be the first Boro player since George Hardwick to represent Great Britain.
The Olympic Torch is due to pass through Newton Aycliffe from 3.30pm on Sunday, up Burn Light and down St Cuthbert’s Way.
“Somebody told me that George Hardwick was the last player to captain a Team GB football team and that shows how long ago it was that Great Britain had a team,” Steele told mfc.co.uk.
“Stuart Pearce has a lot of options and I just hope I can be involved. It would be a fantastic honour but we can only wait and see.”
Boro’s players are due to return to training on July 5, around the same time as Pearce is expected to name his final squad for the 2012 Olympics.
Steele added: “I will be starting pre-season with Middlesbrough regardless and I’m just going to keep myself right just in case I’m involved in the Olympics.
“If I go then I have got to be ready, so I’m just working on my fitness through June. I don’t know whether I will be in or not, we will just have to see.”
Click here to see the second part of our recent interview with Steele
The Newtonian recently helped to launch Newton Aycliffe FC’s Give Us A Quid fundraising campaign.
There are three easy ways to donate:
● Go to paypal.com, click on send payment, and send payment to [email protected]
●Email Newton Aycliffe FC treasurer Paul McGeary for bank details to make a transfer, [email protected]
● Send a cheque, made payable to Newton Aycliffe FC, to Paul McGeary, Treasurer, Newton Aycliffe FC, Aycliffe Sports Club, Moore Lane, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, DL5 5AG.