Fourth is so hard for Middleton and co to take as hockey team miss out

In the seven years since, they have risen at an average of one place a year and began their home Games as the fourth best team in the world.

Sadly for coach Jason Lee, captain Barry Middleton and the team, there was to be no acceleratation of their progress in the two weeks of Olympic competition.

Fourth is where they began and fourth is where they finished after a 3-1 defeat in the bronze medal match to Australia, who in claiming the last step on the podium have actually regressed.

There was significant improvement by Team GB following the 9-2 walloping they received at the hands of Holland in the semi-final.

But Australia, with whom they drew in the pool stage, were too strong, had too much running and too much ingenuity.

Iain Lewers cancelled out Simon Orchard’s opening goal in Saturday’s bronze medal match but Jamie Dwyer and Kieran Govers sealed the win for Australia.

Fourth is a horrible place to finish in an Olympics, and the hosts were understandably flat in the aftermath of a draining experience.

“We hope that we have done the country proud,” said Doncaster’s Middleton, 28. “It has been an amazing journey but it’s a pretty flat feeling right now.

“For us to get the crowds we have had, and the support we’ve had for hockey, is amazing and it shows how big the sport can be.”

His fellow South Yorkshireman Alastair Wilson of Sheffield, was similarly experiencing a dizzying emotional mix of disappointment, pride and fatigue.

“We gave everything we had but it was just not quite enough,” said the 28-year-old defender.

“We gave ourselves a chance, we got into the semi-finals where we wanted to be and from there we knew it was going to be tough.

“Coming fourth is better than being nowhere.

“But it hurts because you get close to what you’ve dreamed about for years.

“The girls have been fantastic as well by winning the bronze medal. We can all be proud of what we have done for hockey.”

Many of the players and staff will now go away and decide what they want from the future.

Having worked so long to get to this point, there is a sense that the hard work must be continued, but right now, the only appetite is for a little time away.

Head coach Lee said the progression must continue until Rio and beyond, with more funding needed in the sport at grass-roots level if British hockey is to break into the top three of Australia, Holland and Germany.

He also feels for the good of British hockey, that England, Wales and Scotland must retain their independence outside Olympic tournaments.