Masters Football

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Masters Football was a six-a-side indoor football competition in the United Kingdom, where players over the age of 35 were chosen by the Masters Football Selection Committee to represent a senior club for which they played. Regional heats were held, and the winners of each progressed forward to a national competition. Events were contested over the course of a single evening (usually on Saturdays or Sundays), with games played in two halves of eight minutes each. The pitch was 60 m (200 ft) by 30 m (98 ft) (the size of an international ice hockey rink), and there was no offside rule. [1]

Contents

The competition ran from 2000 to 2011, live on the UK subscription channel Sky Sports. In 2022, online streaming platform 360 Sports TV announced they would be reviving the competition. [2] [3]

National Masters

Honours

YearChampionRunner-upGrand Final venueGolden Boot winner(s)
2000 Flag of England.svg Nottingham Forest Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers National Ice Centre (Nottingham) Flag of Scotland.svg Ally McCoist (Rangers)
2001 Flag of England.svg Liverpool Flag of England.svg Bradford City  ?? Flag of England.svg John Taylor (Bradford City)
2002 Flag of England.svg Liverpool Flag of England.svg Newcastle United Newcastle Flag of England.svg Peter Beardsley (Newcastle United)
2003 Flag of England.svg Manchester City Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers Telewest Arena, Newcastle Flag of England.svg Peter Beardsley (Newcastle United)
2004 Flag of England.svg Chelsea Flag of England.svg Wolverhampton Wanderers Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield Flag of England.svg John Durnin (Liverpool)
2005 Flag of England.svg Leicester City Flag of England.svg Chelsea  ?? Flag of England.svg Paul Moran (Tottenham Hotspur)
2006 Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers Flag of England.svg Chelsea National Indoor Arena (Birmingham) Flag of England.svg John Durnin (Liverpool)
2007 Flag of England.svg Leicester City Flag of England.svg Wolverhampton Wanderers M.E.N. Arena (Manchester) Flag of Ireland.svg Owen Coyle (Motherwell)
2008 Flag of England.svg Wolverhampton Wanderers Flag of England.svg Manchester City LG Arena (Birmingham) Flag of England.svg Craig Hignett (Middlesbrough)
2009 Flag of England.svg Tranmere Rovers Flag of England.svg Bolton Wanderers Echo Arena Liverpool (Liverpool) Flag of Italy.svg Carbone / Flag of England.svg Goodman / Hignett
2010 Flag of England.svg Birmingham City Flag of England.svg Tranmere Rovers LG Arena (Birmingham) Flag of England.svg Graham Stuart (Everton)
2011 Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers Flag of England.svg Leeds United M.E.N. Arena (Manchester) Flag of England.svg Darren Huckerby (Leeds United)

Venues used

VenueLocation
Flag of Scotland.svg Braehead Arena Renfrew
Flag of England.svg Echo Arena Liverpool Liverpool
Flag of England.svg LG Arena Birmingham
Flag of England.svg M.E.N. Arena Manchester
Flag of England.svg Metro Radio Arena Newcastle upon Tyne
Flag of England.svg National Ice Centre Nottingham
Flag of England.svg National Indoor Arena Birmingham
Ulster Banner.svg Odyssey Arena Belfast
Flag of England.svg Planet Ice Arena Milton Keynes
Flag of England.svg Sheffield Arena Sheffield
Flag of England.svg SkyDome Arena Coventry
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales National Ice Rink Cardiff
Flag of England.svg Wembley Arena London

Referees

Two referees are chosen to officiate in each event, from the following list. They are all FA-endorsed except John Underhill, who is an SFA referee.

Home Nations

Champions

YearChampion
1999 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Masters
2000 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Masters
2001 Flag of Ireland.svg Ulster Banner.svg All-Ireland Masters
2002not held
2003 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Masters
2004 Flag of England.svg England Masters
2005not held
2006not held
2007 Flag of Ireland.svg Ulster Banner.svg All-Ireland Masters
2008not held
2009 Flag of Ireland.svg Ulster Banner.svg All-Ireland Masters

European Masters Cup

Champions

YearChampion
2005 Flag of Scotland.svg Rangers

International Masters Cup

Champions

YearChampion
2006 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Holland Masters

Malaysia Masters Cup

Champions

YearChampion
2008 Flag of England.svg Liverpool
2009 Flag of England.svg Manchester United

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References

  1. Boyle, Callum (February 2022). "An ode to Masters Football". JOE.co.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. "Masters Football Is Officially Returning To Our TV Screens After 11-Year Wait". sportbible.com. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  3. Hoskin, Rob (21 February 2022). "Masters Football is officially returning after an 11-year absence". GiveMeSport. Retrieved 21 February 2022.