Great Britain Olympic football team facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Team GB | |||||||||||||
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| Association | The Football Association (since 1907) | |||||||||||||
| Most caps | Jim Lewis Mike Pinner (11) |
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| Top scorer | Will Campbell (10) | |||||||||||||
| FIFA code | GBR | |||||||||||||
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| First international | ||||||||||||||
 Great Britain 12–1 Sweden  (London, Great Britain; 20 October 1908) |
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| Biggest win | ||||||||||||||
| Great Britain 12–1 Sweden (London, Great Britain; 20 October 1908) |
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| Biggest defeat | ||||||||||||||
 Bulgaria 6–1 Great Britain (Melbourne, Australia; 30 November 1956)  Bulgaria 5–0 Great Britain (Sofia, Bulgaria; 5 May 1971) |
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| Olympic Games | ||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 8 (first in 1900) | |||||||||||||
| Best result | Gold: 1900,1908, 1912 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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The Great Britain Olympic football team is a special football team. It represents the United Kingdom at the Summer Olympic Games. The team is also known as Team GB.
Unlike other international football tournaments, where England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland play separately, the Olympics sometimes have a combined Great Britain team. This team is organized by The Football Association (FA).
The team first played in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. This was the first time national teams, not just club teams, played in the Olympics. Great Britain won gold medals in 1908 and 1912. They also competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics when London hosted the Games again.
Contents
History of Team GB Football
How the Team Started
Football began in London in 1863 when the FA was formed. At first, there was no idea of separate national teams within the UK. The very first international matches were arranged by the FA, inviting players from England and Scotland.
Later, the Scottish Football Association (SFA), Football Association of Wales (FAW), and Irish Football Association (IFA) were created. This meant the four parts of the UK, called the Home Nations, had their own football associations. Because of this, a single "United Kingdom football association" was never formed.
When football was first included in the 1900 Olympic Games, many countries didn't have strong national teams. So, club teams played instead. A club called Upton Park represented the UK and won the gold medal.
Early Olympic Gold Medals (1908–1936)
For the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the FA organized an official football tournament. The team that played was made up only of English players. They were listed as "United Kingdom" but were often called the "English team."
The Scottish Football Association wasn't happy about this. They felt it was wrong for one part of the UK to be called "United Kingdom" without the others agreeing. However, the FA explained it was the name given by the Olympic organizers, and the Scottish FA accepted this.
At the 1908 Olympics, Great Britain won all three of their matches. They beat Sweden and the Netherlands. In the final, they defeated Denmark 2–0, with goals from Vivian Woodward and Frederick Chapman.
The team won again at the 1912 Summer Olympics. They won all three matches and beat Denmark 4–2 in the final. Woodward, who scored in the previous final, was the captain.
At the 1920 Games, Great Britain lost in the first round to Norway. At this time, Britain only used amateur players (who weren't paid to play). Other countries used their best players, even if they were professionals.
This led to disagreements between the FA and FIFA (the world football body). The FA wanted the Olympics to be only for amateur players. FIFA wanted a full world championship for all players. Because of this, the FA stopped entering teams in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.
Eventually, they agreed: Olympic football would be for amateurs, and the FIFA World Cup would be for all players. Great Britain returned to Olympic football in 1936, but lost in the quarter-finals to Poland.
Post-War Games (1948–1972)
After World War II, Great Britain played in every Olympic football tournament from 1948 to 1972. The 1948 tournament, held in London, was their most successful after the early gold medals.
By this time, professional football was very popular in Britain. This meant their amateur players weren't as strong as before. Other countries, where professional leagues weren't as developed, could still send their best players.
Under manager Matt Busby, the team included players from all the Home Nations. They reached the semi-finals by beating the Netherlands and France. They lost to Yugoslavia in the semi-final and then to Denmark in the bronze medal match, finishing fourth.
After 1948, Great Britain didn't perform as well. They were knocked out early in 1952 and 1956. Their last appearance in an Olympic Games was in 1960. The team was again chosen from all the Home Nations. They were eliminated in the first round.
After 1960, Great Britain failed to qualify for the next three Olympics. Their last qualifying match was a 5–0 loss to Bulgaria in 1971.
In 1974, the Football Association stopped separating amateur and professional players. This meant the "England amateur team," which was the basis for the British Olympic team, no longer existed. So, the FA stopped entering a football team in the Olympics.
Absence and Return (1976–2012)
For the 1984 Summer Olympics, professional footballers were allowed to play for the first time. However, there was a rule that players under 23 years old could play, with only three older players allowed per team.
Even with this change, Great Britain didn't enter a team for many years. The UEFA European Under-21 Championship became the way for European nations to qualify for the Olympics. On several occasions, England or Scotland's Under-21 teams finished high enough to qualify.
However, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and other Home Nations worried that if they played as Great Britain, it could put their independent status at risk. They feared FIFA might force them to combine for all competitions. So, they often refused to allow their players to join a Great Britain team.
For example, in 2008, the England women's team qualified for the Olympics. But they couldn't go because the other Home Nations didn't give their permission.
Team GB Reforms for London 2012
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| The BOA released a supporters' shirt for fans of Team GB |
When London won the right to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, the United Kingdom automatically got a spot in the football tournament. The British Olympic Association (BOA) wanted to enter a team.
But the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish football associations were still worried about losing their independent status. They didn't want to take part in a combined team. Only the Football Association (England) was willing.
Many people, including politicians and fans, shared their opinions. Prime Minister Gordon Brown wanted a British team. But First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond was against it.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter first said that playing as a combined team for the Olympics wouldn't affect the Home Nations' independent status. But later, he seemed to change his mind, suggesting it could be harmful.
Eventually, a compromise was reached. The team would be made up mainly of English players. The other associations said they wouldn't participate, but they wouldn't stop England from playing alone. However, the BOA wanted to pick players from all four countries. They said it would be unfair to only pick English players.
Players like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey from Wales said they wanted to play. It was then confirmed that players from outside England would be considered.
Preparing for London 2012
In October 2011, Stuart Pearce was named manager of the Great Britain team. He contacted many players to see if they wanted to be part of the squad. Players who were going to play for the England in the UEFA Euro 2012 were not chosen for the Olympic team to avoid them getting too tired.
Out of 191 players contacted, only 7 said they didn't want to be considered. The final squad of 18 players was announced on July 2, 2012.
Great Britain was placed in Group A for the Olympic tournament. They would play against Uruguay, United Arab Emirates, and Senegal. Before the tournament, they played friendly matches against Mexico and Brazil.
The 2012 Olympic Tournament
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Great Britain's first match was a 1–1 draw with Senegal at Old Trafford in Manchester. Craig Bellamy scored for Great Britain.
Their second match was a 3–1 win against the United Arab Emirates at Wembley Stadium. Ryan Giggs scored first, then Scott Sinclair and Daniel Sturridge added goals.
Sturridge scored again in their final group game, a 1–0 victory against Uruguay. This win meant Great Britain finished top of their group.
In the quarter-finals, Great Britain played South Korea. The score was 1–1 after extra time, so the match went to a penalty shoot-out. Great Britain lost the shoot-out 4–5 after Sturridge missed his penalty. The Koreans scored all five of theirs.
Future of the Team (2016–Present)
After the 2012 Olympics, some players and members of the British Olympic Association wanted the team to continue playing in future Olympics. However, the FA said they would not support a future men's team. The main problem is that the individual Home Nations compete in the qualifying tournaments, so there's no clear way for a Great Britain team to qualify.
In 2015, the FA changed its mind, thinking the Olympics could be good for young players. They told the other Home Nations they planned to enter teams for the 2016 Olympics if England qualified. But the Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish associations still said no. They were worried about their independent status. So, Great Britain did not enter a team in 2016.
After the 2016 Olympics, talks started again for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. FIFA approved the idea of a Great Britain team, saying it wouldn't affect the Home Nations' status. However, the Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish FAs still opposed it.
An agreement was reached for a women's team to play in the 2020 Summer Olympics, but this didn't include the men's team.
There were hopes for a men's team at Paris 2024, but nothing came of it. Negotiations have restarted for Los Angeles 2028, but the Welsh FA has said their focus is on Wales playing in tournaments, not a combined team.
Team Colours
The official kit for the 2012 Olympics was designed by Stella McCartney. The shirt's front looked like the right side of the union flag, using white and different shades of blue. The back of the shirt, shorts, and socks were navy blue with red trim. The away kit was pale blue and white, also with a union flag design. The team's badge was the Team GB logo.
Players
Team Makeup
The players chosen for the Great Britain team have changed over time. In the early Olympics (1908, 1912, 1920), only English players were selected. In other years, players from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales were included.
The 2012 squad had 13 English and 5 Welsh players. There were no Scottish or Northern Irish players. Jack Butland, a goalkeeper, was the only player chosen for both the Olympics and the England Euro 2012 squad.
Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy, and Micah Richards were the three "overage" players allowed (meaning they were older than 23). Famous former England captain David Beckham was considered but wasn't chosen for the final squad.
London 2012 Squad
The Great Britain squad for the 2012 Olympic Games was announced on July 2, 2012. Ryan Giggs was named captain.
- The three overage players are marked with a star (*).
- Clubs listed are where the player was registered during the Olympics.
- Players' ages are what they were on the day of their first game at the Olympics.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | ||
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| 1 | GK |  Jack Butland |
10 March 1993 (aged 19) | 5 | 0 | Birmingham City |
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| 18 | GK | Jason Steele |
18 August 1990 (aged 21) | 1 | 0 | Middlesbrough |
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| 2 | DF |  Neil Taylor |
7 February 1989 (aged 23) | 5 | 0 | Swansea City |
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| 3 | DF | Ryan Bertrand |
5 August 1989 (aged 22) | 4 | 0 | Chelsea |
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| 5 | DF | Steven Caulker |
29 December 1991 (aged 20) | 5 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
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| 6 | DF | Craig Dawson |
6 May 1990 (aged 22) | 3 | 0 | West Bromwich Albion |
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| 12 | DF | James Tomkins |
29 March 1989 (aged 23) | 2 | 0 | West Ham United |
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| 14 | DF | Micah Richards* |
24 June 1988 (aged 24) | 5 | 0 | Manchester City |
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| 4 | MF | Danny Rose |
2 July 1990 (aged 22) | 4 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur |
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| 7 | MF | Tom Cleverley |
12 August 1989 (aged 22) | 5 | 0 | Manchester United |
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| 8 | MF | Joe Allen |
14 March 1990 (aged 22) | 5 | 0 | Swansea City |
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| 11 | MF | Ryan Giggs* (captain) |
29 November 1973 (aged 38) | 4 | 1 | Manchester United |
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| 13 | MF | Jack Cork |
25 June 1989 (aged 23) | 4 | 0 | Southampton |
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| 15 | MF | Aaron Ramsey |
26 December 1990 (aged 21) | 5 | 1 | Arsenal |
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| 16 | MF | Scott Sinclair |
25 March 1989 (aged 23) | 4 | 1 | Swansea City |
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| 9 | FW | Daniel Sturridge |
1 September 1989 (aged 22) | 5 | 2 | Chelsea |
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| 10 | FW | Craig Bellamy* |
13 July 1979 (aged 33) | 5 | 1 | Liverpool |
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| 17 | FW | Marvin Sordell |
17 February 1991 (aged 21) | 3 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers |
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Records and Statistics
Olympic Performance Summary
The Great Britain Olympic football team has a rich history at the Summer Olympics. They have won three gold medals: in 1900, 1908, and 1912.
They have played in 8 Olympic tournaments in total. Their best finish after the early gold medals was fourth place in 1948.
Gold medalists
Silver medalists
Bronze medalists
| Summer Olympics | Qualification | Manager | |||||||||||||||||
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| Year | Host | Round | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Squad | Pos. | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | |||
| 1900 |  France |
Gold medal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | Upton Park F.C. represents Great Britain | ||||||||||
| 1904 |  United States |
Did not enter | Did not enter | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| 1908 |  United Kingdom |
Gold medal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | Squad | No qualification phase | Davis |
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| 1912 |  Sweden |
Gold medal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | Squad | Birch |
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| 1920 |  Belgium |
First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | Squad | Latham |
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| 1924 | France |
Did not enter | N/A | ||||||||||||||||
| 1928 |  Netherlands |
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| 1936 |  Germany |
Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | Squad | Voisey |
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| 1948 | United Kingdom |
Fourth place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 11 | Squad |  Busby |
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| 1952 |  Finland |
Preliminary round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Squad | Winterbottom |
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| 1956 |  Australia |
Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 6 | Squad | 2nd | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | Creek |
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| 1960 |  Italy |
Group stage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | Squad | 3rd | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | |||
| 1964 |  Japan |
Did not qualify | R1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 5 | N/A | |||||||||
| 1968 |  Mexico |
FR | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 1972 |  West Germany |
R1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 1976 |  Canada |
Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
| 1980 |  Soviet Union |
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| 1984 | United States |
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| 1988 |  South Korea |
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| 1992 |  Spain |
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| 1996 | United States |
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| 2000 | Australia |
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| 2004 |  Greece |
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| 2008 |  China |
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| 2012 | United Kingdom |
Quarter-finals | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | Pearce |
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| 2016 |  Brazil |
Did not enter | Did not enter | N/A | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Japan |
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| 2024 | France |
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| Total | Gold medal | 23 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 76 | 44 | — | 3/6 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 23 | ||||
Olympic Finals Played
1908 Final Match
| 24 October 1908 15:00 |
Great Britain |
2–0 |  Denmark |
White City, London Attendance: 8,000 Referee: John Lewis (Great Britain) |
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Chapman  20'Woodward 46' |
Report |
1912 Final Match
| 4 July 1912 19:00 |
Great Britain |
4–2 | Denmark |
Stockholms Stadion, Stockholm Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Christiaan Groothoff (Netherlands) |
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| Hoare 22', 41' Walden 10'Berry 43' |
Report | Olsen 27', 81' |
Images for kids
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The Great Britain squad that won the gold medal in 1908.
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A scene from the 1912 Olympic Final. Great Britain won its second gold medal by beating Denmark 4–2.
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Kick-off during the match between Great Britain and Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium.
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Aaron Ramsey missed a penalty kick against South Korea in the 40th minute.
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol sub-23 del Reino Unido para niños
- Great Britain women's Olympic football team
- United Kingdom national football team
- Unaffiliated United Nations states
