Cork Receives Team GB Call-Up

Southampton midfielder Jack Cork has been selected as part of the Team GB football squad by Head Coach Stuart Pearce. The announcement was made earlier today as the former England under-21 international prepares to play at London 2012 at the end of this month. Cork was part of the Saints team who won promotion back to the Premier League last season where he enjoyed a successful first full season at the club after his first spell in a six-month loan deal in the 2008-2009 season. In response to the news, Cork took the opportunity to say on Twitter: "Thanks to every1 for the nice messages about the Olympics! So proud and honoured to be selected for such a special competition esp in London!" 

OLYMPIAN SAINT: Jack Cork

After various loan spells in the lower leagues, Jack Cork decided to change scenery by moving to Southampton from Chelsea last summer after finding his chances limited at Stamford Bridge. Since then, he has made a massive impact at St. Mary's playing in every Championship game last season helping the Saints secure back-to-back promotions. Before he has another crack at the Premier League, he will join up with the rest of the Team GB Olympic squad this coming Saturday which means he will miss Southampton's pre-season tour to the French resort of Évian-les-Bains and the Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup on July 14th. 

After a friendly against two-time silver medalists Brazil on July 20th at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium, Team GB begin their Olympic campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford on July 26th in Group A. The UAE will be Team GB's next opponents three days later at Wembley before facing Uruguay at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium on August 4th. Cork has played at every youth level for England and will now play in the world's biggest sporting event in London. 

You can find out the Olympic football schedule at: http://www.london2012.com/football/schedule-and-results/ 

Full Team GB squad:

Jason Steele (Middlesbrough), Jack Butland (Birmingham); Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Craig Dawson (West Brom) James Tomkins (West Ham), Neil Taylor (Swansea), Micah Richards (Manchester City); Joe Allen (Swansea), Jack Cork (Southampton), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United); Craig Bellamy (Liverpool), Marvin Sordell (Bolton), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea). 


I have asked for fans opinions on Twitter where they have been really positive about the news: 

@GGalpin95: "Deserves it!" 

@Rob_McGrattan: "I am well chuffed for him. Totally unexpected and put Saints back on the international stage once again. Well Done Jack Cork!" 

@Saint_dabbsie: "Deserves it. Played in all 46 of our league games and was consistently good. Graduate of the u21's - good luck to him!" 

@LambertFanPage7: "He has been a decent servant during our promotion season and glad to see him get a call-up which he deserves to get."

@DanMurff: "He's a good player, saw him a couple of times at Burnley. Will be a good edition to the squad."

@Phiyse: "Surprised and pleased for him. I just hope he gets some game time."

@leachswn: "Great news, good for GB and #SaintsFC, my consistency, great engine in midfield." 

@Dturner96bfc: "No surprise he's been selected was class for us at BFC shame he didn't sign for us, he was thought of very highly up here."