Our Golden Decade

The stereotypical British sports fan; loud, miserable and often thoroughly disappointed with the scenes that they've witnessed take place in front of them. But recently, the stereotype has been forced to change.

The events of the last decade have made it difficult for even the harshest of critics, with many of them even being forced to acknowledge the performances of those representing our nation. Where so often football, our countries national sport, fails to deliver our expectations, the blow is perhaps softened by success elsewhere in the sporting stratosphere.

For me it all began, the 'golden decade if you will,' on 22nd November 2003. At first glance the date seems unambiguous, but it would take only a single kick to change all that. An action which took approximately four seconds to complete, would change the direction of British sport forever. As the ball left Jonny Wilkinson's left boot and slotted through the posts at the Telstra Stadium in Sydney, the dynamics of British sport would change. Suddenly a new found confidence began to engulf the nation's sporting competitors.

It was integral this initial triumph was reinforced with continued success, something the English Cricket team of the 2005 Ashes series ensured. In one of the most dramatic cricket series the sport has ever seen England again come out on top, once again at the cost of the Australians.

I'm of the opinion that had these victories come against a different nation, the impact would in no way have been as powerful. So often seen as the weedy commonwealth cousins to our Australian counterparts, England, and soon the rest of the British Isles, were standing up and showing fight.

2005 would prove a year to be remembered, that same year Liverpool pulled off what many have called 'the comeback of all comebacks' against AC Milan in Istanbul, coming from three goals down to clinch victory on penalties. It was also the year London won the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games, the pinnacle of sporting competition.

In the years that followed our small island continued to thrive in the sporting world. Englishman Lewis Hamilton's last gasp Championship success meant our nation had a Formula One World Champion for the first time since 1996, while Jenson Button followed up with his own Championship success a year later.

Golfer Darren Clarke brought home the Open Championship in 2011, Rory McIlroy doing the same with both the US Open and then the PGA Championship a year later. On top of this Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and McIlroy all spent time as World #1.

Onto London 2012 and many were still sceptical as to our countries ability to host the greatest show on earth. Under the motto of "inspire a generation" the aim of the organising committee was clear. Yet it was not the games itself that would provide the inspiration, it would always be the performance of Great Britain's athletes that would decide whether the games would kick start sporting participation in this country.

Fourth in the medals table in Beijing four years previously, it was implausible to think that level of success could be replicated. Yet when the flames were extinguished on August 12th GB sat 3rd in the medals table, ahead of the power houses of Russia, Germany and again Australia. In ten years Great Britain has risen to take its place among the great nations of sport.

This weekend saw not only the British and Irish Lions winning a test series for the first time since 1997, but Andy Murray's Wimbledon success showed just how far we as a nation have come.

Although only an individual, he encapsulated everything good about British sport. A dogged determination that in the past had been lacking, an eye for the kill and a desire to crush his opponent. Seventy seven year's we've waited for a man to triumph and Wimbledon, and finally, the wait is no more.

British sport is changing, disappointment no longer an option. Unless you're a footballer of course.