Whatever your views on the Olympics, it’s hard to escape the notion that there’s a discernible split in terms of enthusiasm across the country in general, and far more acutely, with regard to the football in particular. This divergence of views is, it seems, less than difficult to explain. After all, it already has a name – Hadrian’s Wall.
Incredibly, seven years have passed since London was confirmed as the host for the 2012 Games. Few will have forgotten the delirious scenes that met the announcement in London, although you would have found something more akin to a nonchalant shrug from those further north.
The apparent paucity of Scottish athletes among team GB who could be described as household names might be a factor. Then again, even allowing for the honour of Edinburgh’s Sir Chris Hoy carrying the Union flag at this Friday’s opening ceremony, the feeling persists that the controversy over the football has had a disproportionate impact on the views of sporting fans in Scotland.
From the off, the Scottish Football Association made its feelings clear, something which many critics would suggest is in itself very unusual. No matter, the fact is the SFA expressed concern that, in the event that Scottish players participated in Team GB, FIFA would consequently insist that the British associations should merge forthwith, including the World Cup and European championships.
Of course, this was never proven definitively, as FIFA made no such public pronouncements. The suspicion was aroused based on hushed conversations between so-called high-ranking officials, and, based on any modicum of reality or not, the hares had been set running.
It must be acknowledged that Stuart Pearce, the manager of the beautiful game’s Team GB, did reach out to the non-English Football Associations, as he gamely attempted to drum up a commitment to the cause from far and wide.
Whilst it would undeniably be stretching credibility to describe this as a charm offensive by the former England internationalist, Pearce was nevertheless spotted at Scottish grounds during the second half of the season, presumably eyeing up potential squad members. (Unfortunately, Pearce’s demeanour on such occasions all too frequently suggested he wasn’t exactly impressed with what was on offer, but, then again, he’s not exactly a man who exudes happiness and exuberance at the best of times).
We know that some Scottish players did receive letters asking whether they might be interested in forming part of the Olympic squad. What is rather less certain is how many responded in the affirmative, and the less said about the particular number who were openly keen to be a part of it all the better. Apathy was possibly the most positive way of describing the response.
Let’s be honest here. Celtic players were never likely to warmly engage with the ideal of participation in a British side. That, like it or not, is the reality of the situation, and why no Parkhead player felt remotely inclined to flirt with the very prospect of tugging on a GB shirt this summer.
One or two players from the club formerly known as Rangers FC were rather less circumspect, although the only realistic contender, Steven Naismith, suffered a serious injury last year that thwarted his potential participation.
Of course, it later transpired that no Scottish player made Pearce’s squad. Doubtless some souls north of the border reeled back in indignation at this – ‘Told you so’ came the cry - but, for most of us, it was hardly a revelation of any magnitude.
Pearce’s assertion that this was simply because no Scottish player was good enough was at best ill-advised, though some of us are left attributing the decision at least in part to a petulant streak coursing through the manager’s veins.
However, we can have no complaints. The inclusion of a token Scottish footballer within Pearce’s squad would surely have had little, if any, impact on interest levels north of Berwick.
Mind you, by all accounts it’s a shame that this, in turn, is likely to be reflected in attendances at Hampden Park over the coming few days. If nothing else, it would have been a blessed relief to eschew the latest shenanigans at Ibrox for a while at least. Then again, that was clearly wishful thinking.