Not since the 1988 Olympics in Seoul has a GB men's team won gold.

Great Britain's women booked their Beijing place by finishing third at the EuroHockey Nations Championship held in Manchester last year, while the men came through a tough qualifying tournament in Chile to join them.

And they have a genuine global star in their ranks in the form of Barry Middleton, the former Doncaster and Cannock forward who is now playing club hockey in Holland - the best league in the world.

He went to Athens four years ago as a relatively fresh-faced youngster at the age of 20 but when he takes to the pitch in China in August it will be as a major player in the GB set-up.

Middleton, who in May was many people's man of the match as a losing finalist with HGC in the European Hockey League - the sport's version of football's Champions League - is well aware history weighs heavy on the team.

However, he is optimistic the team can write a new chapter with the current crop of players.

"They had world-class players in the 1988 team and you have to admire their achievements because many were holding down jobs as well," said Middleton.

"The difference now is a lot of the Dutch guys, and the other countries, are more hockey, hockey, hockey. In 1988 everyone was still amateur. But fair play to them, they won the Olympics.

"We need to give people something to remember. People who never watch hockey now have a chance to do so and if we can play well and play exciting hockey it will get them interested."

Middleton admits his time spent with his Dutch club, based in Wassenaar near The Hague, has undoubtedly developed him both as a player and a person.

The Hoofdklasse attracts the world's top stars and facing them has taught Middleton valuable lessons.

"My game has definitely improved. It has toughened me up a bit," he said.

"When I went out there I had quite a bit of responsibility and it made me stand up a bit more.

"At Cannock there were seven or eight of us who were in the England team or ex-internationals and if you had a bad day everyone else would pull you through.

"But HGC look at me as the focal point of the attacking play and it helped me take on a lot of responsibility in making something happen.

"Being in Holland I have been seen by more people and that has brought more pressure as people can set up against me. It makes it harder for me as I have to keep coming up with ways to get better.

"Every week you are being marked by an international and that makes you concentrate more.

"It's been brilliant and I'm going back out there to sign up for another couple of years straight after the Olympics."

The former Loughborough University student believes he can transfer his experience in Holland on to the Olympic stage, but he feels the squad as a whole have learned much in the last three months.

In naming his squad for Beijing head coach Jason Lee kept faith with those who won the qualifying tournament in Chile and that has not been lost on the players.

"The last few months, having come through qualifying, have given us some confidence," said Middleton.

"The last Olympics were not that brilliant and I never really enjoyed it because some of the hockey was pretty rubbish and we didn't do very well.

"We can do very well in China. We have a real understanding because of what we experienced at the qualifier.

"In Chile we were pretty fluid. Everyone knows their jobs pretty well and I think it will make for a more attacking spectacle.

"Over the years we have not had that attacking flair but we have shown in bigger games people were making sure they stood up.

"Hopefully at the Olympics we can show a bit more of our attacking side. I think it will surprise some people."

He stopped short of predicting a medal, however, as Great Britain - ranked eighth in the world - face Olympic champions Australia, European champions Holland, Pakistan, South Africa and Canada in their pool.

"I think we would be happy to get in the top six. If we were playing at our best and caused an upset in the group we could steal a semi-final spot," he added.

"I think we are a way from a gold medal at the moment. We are quite a way behind the top four (Australia, Holland, Germany and Spain).

"You have to break into that and that can drive us on, but finishing anything above sixth is a bonus."