TRS-T Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 The FA is mulling a top level double-bill to celebrate Britain's return to Olympic football after 40 years. The men's and women's teams would play international friendlies at the same venue on the same day next July. Olympic rules state friendlies cannot be played at London 2012 venues, ruling out Wembley, Old Trafford, St James' Park, Hampden Park, City of Coventry stadium, and the Millennium Stadium. Villa Park in Birmingham is seen as a strong contender for the fixtures. The ground is no stranger to high-profile fixtures as it was used in the Euro 96 championships and hosted an FA Cup semi-final as recently as 2007. London 2012 will see the women's team making their Olympic debut with the men competing for the first time since Munich 1972, when they were knocked out in the group stages. July's double-header would be one of two pre-tournament friendlies for both teams, which are being organised by the FA on behalf of the British Olympic Association, and would be played shortly before the start of the Games on 27 July. London 2012's football tournament starts on 25 July, two days before the Opening Ceremony, with two women's preliminary games at the Millennium Stadium. The women's final will be played on 9 August at Wembley, where the men's final takes place two days later. The FA sees the Olympics as a chance to boost the profile of women's football, and the double-header friendly fixtures would be a great opportunity to engage a wider audience for the sport. Hope Powell, appointed last week to manage the women's team, hopes the Games will lead to a rise in popularity in the women's game in the home nations. "I'm delighted to be in the position to be able to take a team into such an illustrious tournament, I just wish it were starting tomorrow," she said on the day of her appointment. Powell has led England's women for 13 years and to four successive major finals, including Euro 2005 on home soil. Former England defender Stuart Pearce was named as the men's manager, and he called on Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Football Associations to make their players available for London 2012. The Wales and Scottish Football Associations have reiterated their opposition to a British team as they feel it threatens their independence as football nations. The 18-strong men's squads must contain 15 players who were born on, or after, 1 January 1989 - but three players can be older. There are no age limits for the women's selections. London 2012: FA ponders Team GB Olympic celebration games I hope this is true. Would be great to see Team GB playing in Birmingham. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegiddygambler Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 The FA is mulling a top level double-bill to celebrate Britain's return to Olympic football after 40 years. The men's and women's teams would play international friendlies at the same venue on the same day next July. Olympic rules state friendlies cannot be played at London 2012 venues, ruling out Wembley, Old Trafford, St James' Park, Hampden Park, City of Coventry stadium, and the Millennium Stadium. Villa Park in Birmingham is seen as a strong contender for the fixtures. The ground is no stranger to high-profile fixtures as it was used in the Euro 96 championships and hosted an FA Cup semi-final as recently as 2007. London 2012 will see the women's team making their Olympic debut with the men competing for the first time since Munich 1972, when they were knocked out in the group stages. July's double-header would be one of two pre-tournament friendlies for both teams, which are being organised by the FA on behalf of the British Olympic Association, and would be played shortly before the start of the Games on 27 July. London 2012's football tournament starts on 25 July, two days before the Opening Ceremony, with two women's preliminary games at the Millennium Stadium. The women's final will be played on 9 August at Wembley, where the men's final takes place two days later. The FA sees the Olympics as a chance to boost the profile of women's football, and the double-header friendly fixtures would be a great opportunity to engage a wider audience for the sport. Hope Powell, appointed last week to manage the women's team, hopes the Games will lead to a rise in popularity in the women's game in the home nations. "I'm delighted to be in the position to be able to take a team into such an illustrious tournament, I just wish it were starting tomorrow," she said on the day of her appointment. Powell has led England's women for 13 years and to four successive major finals, including Euro 2005 on home soil. Former England defender Stuart Pearce was named as the men's manager, and he called on Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Football Associations to make their players available for London 2012. The Wales and Scottish Football Associations have reiterated their opposition to a British team as they feel it threatens their independence as football nations. The 18-strong men's squads must contain 15 players who were born on, or after, 1 January 1989 - but three players can be older. There are no age limits for the women's selections. London 2012: FA ponders Team GB Olympic celebration games I hope this is true. Would be great to see Team GB playing in Birmingham. I can't say I care tbh. Love track and field? watch the olympics. love football? watch the world cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogso Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I would go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 We should have had the games here anyway as the ground capacity was never really going to be increased was it? I have tickets for Coventry but would see the games at Villa Park as well but having side stepped the opportunity to get games last time I guess they may look elsewhere around the UK where there are no Olympic matches being played nearby such as at Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham, Southampton or how about in Northern Ireland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I really hope the team GB football team, no doubt full of wanke r s like Rooney, Cole & Terry don't dominate the Olympics headlines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villaninireland Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Under 23s with 2 over age players I believe so that rules quite a few of those out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 3 overage players and the FA will wrangle it so that anyone at the euros wont be involved IMO if it wasnt i still dont think terry and cole would get a sniff, jones can cover terry and gibbs can cover cole, one of the overage positions IMO would have to go to hart, another to rooney and then another either to some retiring player looking for a swansong or someone from the other 3 as a carrot dangling exercise (giggs fits both) i think id go, as always it would depend on who they played, you can imagine sunderland snapping it up if we dont, one of them where we always moan about people not recognising our area for football and then when an opportunity comes along we all say nah bollocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Is there not still building work planned for VP next summer? Wasn't that the point of us pulling the ground out of the Olympics anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 3 overage players and the FA will wrangle it so that anyone at the euros wont be involved IMO they will be Beckham, Giggs and maybe Owen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted October 27, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would have thought they'd use one of the Olympic football venues to host this. Regardless, I'd probably be interested depending on the team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 GB jersey could be interesting as more than likely be a one off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted October 27, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2011 Barry Bannan ought to be nailed on for that team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would have thought they'd use one of the Olympic football venues to host this. Olympic rules state friendlies cannot be played at London 2012 venues, ruling out Wembley, Old Trafford, St James' Park, Hampden Park, City of Coventry stadium, and the Millennium Stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa4europe Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 GB jersey could be interesting as more than likely be a one off gareth bale is wearing it on a pic inside the new football manager... im guessing it a prototype or a training top as its a bit different, ive looked for pics online but cant find any Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted October 27, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would have thought they'd use one of the Olympic football venues to host this. Olympic rules state friendlies cannot be played at London 2012 venues, ruling out Wembley, Old Trafford, St James' Park, Hampden Park, City of Coventry stadium, and the Millennium Stadium. Missed that bit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Genie Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I think Beckham must be a certainty for one of the overage spots. Maybe Hart/Given would take another as we really do need a decent keeper. Not sure about the third. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Given is Irish :@ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS-T Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Maybe Given as we really do need a decent keeper. Given is not British. He's Irish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Dilemma for you TRS-T; as it's team GB, what nationality should the manager be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Is there not still building work planned for VP next summer? Wasn't that the point of us pulling the ground out of the Olympics anyway? No & Yes Wainy316. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts