Founded | 1968 [1] |
---|---|
Abolished | 1986 [1] |
Region | England (The FA) |
Number of teams | 16 (1972–82) [2] |
Last champions | Norwich City (1st title) |
Most successful club(s) | Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton (2 titles) |
Television broadcasters | BBC (1972–83) [2] [3] |
The Daily Express National Five-a-Sides was an annual indoor football tournament for Football League clubs across England, with Scottish League clubs invited on occasions. [4] The competition was contested between 1968 and 1986 (and televised up to 1983). [1]
The Daily Express sponsored competition was held at Wembley Arena to packed crowds of between 8,000 and 10,000. [1] The competition was a covered by the BBC and highlighted on their Wednesday Sportsnight programme. [1] [5] The last televised edition was in 1983. [1]
There was no coverage of the 1985 edition because of the TV blackout on football in England at the time. [6]
Scottish football teams received invites. [7] Other indoor tournaments popular around this time included Evening Standard London Five-a-Sides (around since 1954) and Guinness Soccer Six (inspired by MISL) competitions. [7] Both the national and London fives tournaments shared a home at the Wembley Arena between 1968 and 1986. [8]
Matches were split in two four minute halves. [1] Time limits for matches increased as the tournament progressed. [1] Though match lengths altered over the years. [1] Any drawn matches were resolved with a penalty shoot-out. [1] The rules included no passbacks to the goalkeeper and the ball must remain below shoulder height. [1]
League | Winners | Runners up |
---|---|---|
Football League First Division | 13 | 14 |
Football League Second Division | 5 | 2 |
Football League Third Division | 0 | 1 |
Scottish Premier Division | 1 | 1 |
Country | Winners | Runners up |
---|---|---|
England | 18 | 17 |
Scotland | 1 | 1 |
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The Evening Standard London Five-a-Sides was an annual indoor football tournament organized by the Sports Council. As the competition name suggests it featured Football League clubs from the capital city. The latter years of the event was open to Football League clubs outside London.
The Soccer Six was an annual indoor football tournament organized the Football League in England. The first year of the competition was for the Midlands clubs only, but expanded for clubs nationwide every year after.