The men's version of football is often derided at the Olympics. However, the Echo's Mark Whiley discovers from Lincoln Ladies defender and England captain Casey Stoney how for the female side of the sport there is a lot more riding on it...

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Football is often a derided part of the Olympic Games.

By many it is regarded as a mere sideshow compared to 'true' Olympic sports like swimming and athletics.

In terms of importance it is poor relation to the World Cup and the European Championships.

But that is in the men's game. It is a very different story in women's football.

Unlike the men's tournament, there is no age restriction and the Women's Super League will break for a month-and-a-half mid-season to allow for preparation and the tournament itself, which will feature 12 teams.

"In the women's game, the Olympics is up there with the World Cup, if not more important, so for us it's huge," said Lincoln Ladies defender and England captain Casey Stoney.

The central defender is likely to be one of the first names on the team sheet when coach Hope Powell picks her Great Britain squad for the Games.

For England, Stoney is used to playing at venue likes Doncaster and Shrewsbury, excellent, but modestly-sized stadiums.

But during the Olympics, Great Britain will grace Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and Wembley in their group games.

"We're playing two games at the Millennium Stadium and one at Wembley," said Londoner Stoney, whose Lincoln and England team-mates Jess Clarke and Sophie Bradley will also be hoping to be part of the squad.

"I'd liked to have had two games at Wembley, but hopefully we can get through our group and play more games there.

"To play in those sort of stadiums, you can't get any better than that."

As the powerhouse of the home nations, the squad is set to dominated by Stoney's England team-mates.

But the 29-year-old believes the players from the other nations have the quality to make Powell's squad too – and help the team secure a medal.

"The other nations are coming along," she said.

"Scotland have certainly got stronger recently. They've got the some real key players and the likes of Kim Little and Jennifer Beattie will be looking to stake their claim for a place.

"To be honest, I don't know too much about Wales, but I know Jane Ludlow has been a key figure for them during the last 10 or 12 years.

"Being the strongest home nation, I think England players will make up the majority of the squad.

"But I'd like to see some Scottish and Welsh players in there as well."

With the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish associations reluctant to see their players involved, the make-up of Great Britain's men's team has been one of the biggest talking points ahead of the Games.

Stoney believes the associations would be doing their players a huge disservice by attempting to block their involvement.

"The Olympics isn't as big in men's football as it is in the women's game, but it's still an opportunity for their under-23s to gain tournament experience, which will make them better players in the long run," said Stoney.

"I think it's disappointing as they're potentially starving their players of international experience."

The Celtic nations have similar reservations about their female stars representing Team GB.

"They are frightened of losing their (FIFA) vote and I understand that," Stoney added.

"We don't want to go into every competition as Great Britain, but it's only once every four years.

"Why can't we go back to England, Scotland, Northern Island and Wales after the Olympics?

"Hope (Powell) said recently that all four nations are up for selection, it's about whether they decide to play individually."

Once the summer spectacular finally comes around, Stoney has high hopes that the women's team can challenge for a medal.

"First and foremost we've all got to get selected for the squad, then we'll set our sights on trying to get a medal," said Stoney.

"It'll be interesting because we've never competed as Great Britain before, but I think we've got every chance of doing well.

"As England, we have done well recently although we' ve been disappointed to only make quarter-finals (at the World Cup).

"The further we can go in the competition the better, it can only bode well for women's football and women's sport in this country."