Middleton dreaming of Olympics

FORMER Doncaster Hockey Club star Barry Middleton is hoping to help secure Great Britain's place in next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Aug 2007, 10:47 BST
Updated 16th Aug 2007, 13:15 BST

The 23-year-old midfielder, who played his hockey in the crack Dutch National League last season, is included in the England squad for the forthcoming EuroHockey Nations Championships.

England begin their campaign for the European title and British Olympic qualification at Belle Vue in Manchester on Sunday when they take on Belgium.

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They will then play the Czech Republic and Germany before the classification matches take place between 24-26 August. Spain, the Netherlands, France and Ireland will play in the other pool of the eigh- team tournament.

Twelve of the squad, including Middleton, played in the last European Cup in Leipzig when England finished sixth.

Middleton also played in the Champions Challenge last month in Belgium where England finished in fourth place in the six-team tournament.

England need to finish in the top three of the EuroHockey Nations Championships to secure qualification on behalf of Great Britain for the 2008 Olympics

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Doncaster-born Middleton learnt his craft in the Town Fields junior ranks and went on to play at National League Premier Division level with the club before joining Cannock while studying at Loughborough.

It didn't take Middleton long to catch the attention of the England selectors.

But Middleton, a keen footballer in his younger days, admitted this week that he hadn't expected to be selected for the 2004 Olympics after just 12 months on the international scene.

However, he turned out to be one of the stars of the Great Britain team in Athens.

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The former Hall Cross schoolboy said: "It was disappointing from the team's point of view because we finished ninth and didn't get through the group stages.

"But from a personal point of view it went well.

"Even so I was still surprised with the amount of national media attention when I got back home. I didn't realise that I had made that sort of impact.

"It would be great to go to another Olympics. Because what was a young squad in 2004 is now much more experienced, I would expect us to do much better.

"But we've got to get there first and qualifying is going to be tough. I expect it be between oursleves, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain."

Related topics:MiddletonBelgiumGreat BritainGermanySpainEngland