by Alex Hoad

Former Gillingham footballer Ryan Bertrand has been named in the Great Britain men's football team for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The 22-year-old left Priestfield and signed for Premier League side Chelsea in July 2005, a month before his 16th birthday.

The left-back - a former Robert Napier School, Gillingham, pupil - had joined Gillingham as a nine-year-old and worked his way through the youth ranks before making the switch to Stamford Bridge.

He made his first Blues appearance as a sub against Birmingham in April 2011 and notably made his European debut playing on the left wing in the Champions League Final win over Bayern Munich in May.

Bertrand (pictured) is one of 18 players in Stuart Pearce's TeamGB squad for the competition - which culminates in a Wembley Final on August 11.

Their first game will be against Senegal at Old Trafford on July 26 with a game against the United Arab Emirates to follow on July 29 and a clash with Argentina to follow in Wales on August 1.

London 2012 will be the first Olympics since 1960 in Rome where Great Britain will compete in the football competition.

Do you think TeamGB can win a medal in the football competition? Have your say below.