He watched from the sidelines during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but hockey star James Fair will head to London next year expecting to play a key role as Great Britain’s number one goalkeeper.

PAUL GLYNN reports.

WHEN Great Britain’s men’s hockey team line up at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, it should no doubt give them great heart to know they are going into battle backed by the game’s greatest goalkeeper.

Former Chester King’s School pupil James Fair, of Pulford, was selected in the 2010 International Hockey Federation All Star Team, making him officially the hottest stopper out there.

But the widely respected 29-year-old keeper says he will still be doing everything in his power between now and the Games to ensure he avoids being handed a watching brief from the substitutes’ bench, as he was when Britain finished fifth in Beijing in 2008.

With automatic Olympic qualification already guaranteed for the highly-ranked GB team, Fair is concentrating his efforts on getting himself fit and nailing down the number one spot.

“It would be the pinnacle of my career to play in the Olympics,” said the former Deeside Ramblers player, who now works as a hockey professional at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

“Last time I was the travelling reserve for Ally McGregor.

“I was in the Olympic Village and got a feel for it but did not actually get on.

“That memory spurs me on and I’m confident in my ability to do the job.”

He added: “We should be good enough to medal this time.

“We can compete with the big teams and have closed the gap on the likes of Australia and Germany.”

The goalkeeper, who now plays for Cannock in the National Premier League, has won numerous caps for Great Britain and England, and boasts a wealth of European club hockey experience to boot.

He missed out on the recent indoor World Cup in Poland as selectors preferred a different goalie for the tournament, played on a smaller pitch.

But Fair hopes and expects to be restored to the GB side for the games leading up to the Olympics.

He kept goal for England during the last World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in India, and is now dreaming of backing up his recent individual award with the ultimate team prize.

“The main tournament for us now before the Olympics is the European Cup in August in Germany,” he said.

“We then have the Champions Trophy in India and we want to play well in those.

“Then the Olympics on home soil will be great as all our families can come and watch.

“But it is important that we inspire other people to play sport and leave a legacy.”