Next year, at London 2012, we will see the first Great Britain football sides to play in the Olympics since the Games of 51 years ago.

Members of that last team, from Rome in 1960, will be taking in the Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United npower League Two game at Greenhous Meadow on Saturday.

The previous team to represent Britain are meeting up for a reunion this weekend.

The eight of them plus wives, will enjoy a round of golf, the Shrews v U’s football match, and two dinners.

“How they are going to sort out a GB team for 2012, I don’t know,” Mike Greenwood, who played in 1960, said. “But nothing would give me more pleasure if they did.

“The 1960 Olympics were a marvellous experience, never to be forgotten. You were brushing shoulders with Cassius Clay and Anita Lonsbrough, who won a gold medal.”

So why are these famous footballers of the past, and their wives, seeing tomorrow’s game?

Well, Greenwood is a former deputy director of the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall, and used his contacts to ensure the ex-players and wives can use the Shropshire complex as a base.

He explained: “There was a 50-year reunion for the GB squad from the Rome Olympics last August and there were ten of the 19-man football squad there which was a remarkable effort.

“A few of the lads had kept in touch, but most of us hadn’t seen each other for 50 years.

“We got talking and it was suggested we had another reunion and it’s this weekend.

“For various reasons, not all could come, but we are all still looking forward to it.”

The Shrews are hoping results go their way, and they can seal promotion to League One.

“It could be a special day for Shrewsbury and we are looking forward to being there,” he said.