Square Mile Sport Awards - Vote Now!
There have been many successful British sports teams in 2008. Now is the chance for you to choose which one is the most worthy of the Sports Team of the Year award. Below are the 5 sports teams that have been nominated for this award.…
The winner was chosen from the 5 nominees below...
Team GB, Olympics
It's difficult to say what was the greater feat in this summer's Beijing Olympics - finishing fourth in the final medal table or beating the Australians. Either way, Team GB's performance in picking up 47 medals including 19 golds was an incredible achievement and created a new raft of sporting heroes overnight. From established Olympians Ben Ainslie and Chris Hoy to the emergence of fresh new talent like Becky Adlington and James DeGale not to mention the emotional rollercoaster undertaken by 400m gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu. Sending the country Olympics mad was one thing but the performances perhaps more importantly also breathed new life into the anticipation levels for London 2012.
London Wasps, Rugby Union
Topping the Heineken Cup triumph of the previous season was always going to be a big ask but London Wasps proved that their success was no flash in the pan by winning their sixth top-flight title, beating Leicester 26-16 in the Guinness Premiership Final. The victory was a fitting send-off for Wasps captain and legend Lawrence Dallaglio for whom the game proved to be his last professional appearance prior to retirement. The most impressive feat about Wasps' title win was that the team was languishing in 10th place in October way behind the league leaders before the club's well-documented never say die attitude emerged.
Manchester United, Football
On the 50th anniversary of the tragic plane accident that robbed the world of the Busby Babes, you could be forgiven for thinking that fate would transpire to bring success to Manchester United. You'd be wrong. They didn't need fate. It was all their own work. With Rooney and Tevez in full flow and an inspired Ronaldo terrorising defences, the Red Devils stormed to the Premier League title – a success that was soon followed by their second Champions League trophy after a tense penalty shootout against English rivals Chelsea in the final. Attractive to watch on the attack and steely in defence, United were the form side of the 2007/08 season and a fitting testament to those who went before them.
Middlesex CCC, Cricket
While the arrival of Twenty20 cricket has revolutionised the structure of the sport, it has also propelled players of muscular skill and awesome hitting power into the forefront. Middlesex's side was full of them as they proved in a nail-biting finale to the Twenty20 Cup beating Kent by three runs after posting the highest score in a final in the history of the competition. Nor was the trophy the only prize up for grabs that day. In passing the acid nerve test to emerge victorious, Middlesex qualified for the vast riches up for grabs at the Stanford Series in the Caribbean and the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 competition. Not a bad day's work all told.
Wales, Rugby Union
There are few Welsh fans who will forget the 2008 Six Nations in a hurry. While the English rose wilted and the French cock failed to crow, the boys from the Valleys were running riot. The dazzling feet of winger Shane Williams ran in 6 tries on his way to becoming the leading try scorer in the nation's history while the forward pack drove the opposition into the ground. A Grand Slam of victories in the tournament was no more than they deserved, masterminded by the inspirational managerial duo of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards. More than a few ales were downed in celebration on the streets of Cardiff after Ryan Jones lifted the trophy in front of a jubilant home crowd.