Philip Barker: Britain played its last Olympic football match in 1971 when no-one really cared

Philip Barker

When Ryan Giggs (pictured below) led the Great Britain team out against Senegal at Old Trafford yesterday, it was their first competitive Olympic match for 41 years.

In those days, the game in England was still divided between professionals and amateurs and Great Britain were drawn to play Bulgaria in their quest to reach the Olympic Games in Munich.

Charles Hughes, a coach at the Football Association (FA) and the manager of the England amateur team was put in charge.

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Moynihan disagrees with Blatter over Bale ban

Tottenhams Gareth_Bale

By Andrew Warshaw

July 27 – British Olympic Association (BOA) chairman Colin Moynihan has played down suggestions by FIFA President Sepp Blatter that Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale could be banned for pulling out of the Olympics if there was an official complaint that he did so under false pretences.

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Late Senegal goal denies Team GB glory at their first London 2012 match

Ryan Giggs_and_Craig_Bellamy_26-07-12

By Andrew Warshaw at Old Trafford in Manchester

July 26 – On the eve of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony and more than half a century after their last appearance at the Olympic football tournament, Britain’s men came within nine agonising minutes of pulling off an historic victory tonight but ultimately ran out of steam as party-poopers Senegal ruined Ryan Giggs’ special night.

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