Steele eyes Gold
- Tuesday,
Team GB Double Header
Women v Sweden (4pm)
Men v Brazil (7.45pm)
Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough FC
Buy Online - click here
Ticket hotline 0844 499 1234
Live on BBC1
Jason Steele is looking forward to the opportunity to represent Great Britain, not only at London 2012, but in front of his home fans at the Riverside Stadium.
Team GB face a tough test from one of the tournament favourites Brazil in the second of two matches at Middlesbrough on Friday, and the Boro stopper is excited about being part of an historic Great Britain side, one that he hopes can scoop a medal at London 2012.
But Steele knows he has a battle on his hands for the GB no.1 jersey, with fellow England Under-21s stopper Jack Butland in the squad. Birmingham City keeper Butland has been the first choice for Stuart Pearce with the Three Lions, including in their European Championship qualifier in Middlesbrough against Belgium in February.
The 18-year-old was also called up for Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2012, and while Steele believes Butland has the edge, he’s relishing the chance to make history with Team GB this summer.
"I've got to make sure at training and in warm-ups I show what I can do and get in ahead of him [Butland]," said 21-year-old Steele. "Whether I play or not it's going to be a special occasion for Middlesbrough Football Club.
"I hope the town and people can pull together, get a full house and hopefully it will put us back on the map."
And Steele, who is no stranger to international tournaments having been part of the Under-21s squad that reached the Euro Finals in Denmark last year, as well as leading the U19s to the European Championship Final as captain in 2009, is now eyeing Olympic Gold.
"Once the tournament is over, it might hit me, I might realise what we've been doing, what we've achieved. If we get a medal it will obviously be even better," he said. "I think you've got to go into it aiming for the gold medal."
Steele added: "It's a really nice feeling. It's something I'll really cherish for the rest of my life and tell my children and grandchildren about. Hopefully I'll get a chance to show everyone what I'm all about."
And Steele is not the only Middlesbrough player two have featured at an Olympic Games while playing his football at the Riverside. He joins fellow keeper Brad Jones, now at Liverpool, and Brazilian legend Juninho on an exclusive list. Other former Boro players who have featured at the Olympic Games are;
2012 - Jason Steele (GB) - whilst at Boro
2008 - Faris Haroun (Belgium)
2008 - Chris Killen (New Zealand)
2004 - Brad Jones (Australia) - whilst at Boro
2000 - Mark Viduka (Australia)
2000 - Yakubu ( Nigeria)
2000 - Geremi (Cameroon)
1996 - Juninho (Brazil) - whilst at Boro
1996 - Mark Viduka (Australia)
1996 - Marco Branca (Italy)
1996 - Gaizka Mendieta (Spain)
1992 - Tony Vidmar (Australia)
1992 - Paul Okon (Australia)
Tickets for the double-header are still available directly from Middlesbrough FC. Click here to book online or call the ticket hotline on 0844 499 1234
The games will be the only chance for fans to see the men's and women's teams play before the Olympic football tournament begins five days later when Team GB women take on New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff , with the men’s team kicking off their competition against Senegal at Old Trafford (KO 8pm) on Thursday 26 July.
