National Five-a-Sides (England) explained

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]

History

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]

Competing teams

• 1974–75: Ipswich Town, Luton Town (East); Chelsea, Leyton Orient, QPR, Tottenham (London) Derby County, Leicester City, Stoke City, Wolves (Midlands); Middlesbrough (North East); Everton, Man City, Man United (North West); Celtic, Rangers (Scotland)^{[2] [9]}
• 1975–76: Leyton Orient, Tottenham (London); Derby County (Midlands) Man City, Man United (North West)^[2]
• 1977–78: Ipswich Town (East), Arsenal, Chelsea, QPR, Tottenham, West Ham (London); Aston Villa, Coventry City, Derby County, Notts Forest, Wolves (Midlands); Newcastle United (North East); Everton, Man City, Man United (North West); Celtic (Scotland)^[2]
• 1978–79: Ipswich Town (East); Derby County, Wolves (Midlands); Man City, Man United (North West), Southampton (South East)^[2]
• 1980–81: Ipswich Town (East); Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, QPR, Tottenham (London); Aston Villa, Coventry, Notts Forest, WBA (Midlands); Newcastle United, Sunderland (North East); Man City, Man United (North West); Brighton (South East); Aberdeen (Scotland)^[2]
• 1981–82: Ipswich Town (East); Arsenal, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, QPR, Watford, West Ham (London); Birmingham City, Coventry City, WBA (Midlands); Everton, Man United (North West); Southampton (South East); Celtic, Rangers (Scotland), Swansea City (Wales)^[2]
• 1982–83: Ipswich Town, Luton Town (East); Arsenal, QPR, Watford, West Ham (London); Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Notts Forest (Midlands), Sunderland, Newcastle United (North East), Man City, Man United (North West), Southampton (South East); Celtic (Scotland)^[2]
• 1986–87: Luton Town, Norwich City (East); Arsenal, Charlton, Tottenham, Watford, West Ham (London); Aston Villa, Coventry City, Notts Forest (Midlands); Man City, Man United (North West); Oxford United, Reading, Southampton (South East); Sheffield United (Yorkshire)^[10]

List of Finals

Season	Winners	Score	Runners up	Final scorers	Ref
1967–68	Charlton Athletic	1–0	Gillingham	Peacock	[11] [12]
1968–69	No competition. Tournament moved from May to November.
1969–70		2–1	Swindon Town	Bell, Young; Rodgers	[13] [14]
1970–71		2–1	Tottenham Hotspur	Best (2); Knowles	[15] [16]
1971–72	Southampton	0–0 (1–0 p)	Leicester City		[17] [18]
1972–73		2– 2 (4–3 p)	Ipswich Town	Holder (2), Pratt, Pearce; Hamilton (2), Viljoen	[19]
1973–74	Derby County	3–1	Celtic		[20] [21]
1974–75		2–0	Tottenham Hotspur	Hoadley (2)	[22] [23]
1975–76	Wolverhampton Wanderers	3–1	Tottenham Hotspur	Bailey, Hibbitt, Carr; McNab	[24] [25]
1976–77	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2–1	Stoke City	Daley, Hibbitt; Lumsdon	[26]
1977–78		3–1	Coventry City	Oakey	[27]
1978–79	Crystal Palace	2–2 Penalties	Chelsea		[28]
1979–80	Sunderland	2–0	Brighton & Hove Albion	Arnott, Buckley	[29] [30]
1980–81	Aston Villa	3–0	Chelsea	Evans, Swain, Bremner	[31]
1981–82	Celtic	1–0	Southampton	Nicholas	[32]
1982–83	Arsenal	2–0	Aston Villa	McDermott, Talbot	[33]
1983–84	Southampton	3–0	Aston Villa	Wallace, Moran, Holmes	[34]
1984–85	Watford	1–0	Aston Villa	Sterling	[35] [36]
1985–86	Oxford United	2–2 (1–0 p)	Arsenal	Sansom (2)	[37]
1986–87	Norwich City	5–0	Manchester City	Putney (2), Culverhouse (2), Gordon	[38]

Finalists by

League

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

Country	Winners	Runners up
England	18	17
Scotland	1	1

See also

• Tennents' Sixes

External links

• Sportsnight With Coleman History BBC.
• Midweek Football Coverage: 1968/69 to 1982/83 ITV Football.
• Football Tournament Programmes AB Football Programmes.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Football Nostalgia: National Daily Express 5-A-Side Competition . comicus.co.uk . 17 July 2018 . 14 July 2020 .
2. Web site: Results 1 to 13 of 13 for Five-a-Side National Championship . . BBC Genome Project . 14 July 2024 .
3. Web site: TV CENTRE : BBC 1 & CENTRAL . Sandwell Evening Mail . 23 November 1983 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
4. Web site: Welcome to Issue 26 . Nutmeg . 14 July 2020 .
5. Web site: Subbuteo Football Express Set & Accessories . Little Plastic Men . 14 July 2020 .
6. Web site: BANNED.. . 24 November 1985 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
7. Web site: Famous Fives . . 14 July 2020 .
   Web site: The glory days of televised indoor tournaments . When Saturday Comes . 14 July 2020 .
8. Web site: Football Nostalgia: London Evening Standard 5-A-Side Tournament . comicus.co.uk . 13 July 2018 . 19 July 2020 .
9. Web site: Pick of the Night . . 6 November 1974 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
10. Web site: WEMBLEY DATE FOR ROYALS . . 19 July 1986 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
11. Web site: The 1960s . Gillingham FC Scrapbook . 14 July 2020.
12. Web site: Gills lose by the only goal . . 17 May 1968 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
13. Web site: National Daily Express 5 A Side Trophy 1969/70 . City Till I Die . 6 July 2011 . 14 July 2020 .
14. Web site: Wembley alp Number Two for Man. City . Acton Gazette . 13 November 1969 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
15. Web site: Other Activities . My Eyes Have Seen The Glory . 19 July 2024 . (new version)
    Web site: Other Activities . My Eyes Have Seen the Glory . 14 July 2020. (archived version)
16. Web site: Best turns on fives' magic . Belfast News Letter . 5 November 1970 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
17. Web site: WHEN SAINTS WENT TO WEMBLEY IN 1971 . Saints Players . 14 July 2024 .
18. Web site: Saints Players: Eric Martin . Saints Players . 2 August 2020 .
19. Web site: Spurs take fives title . Western Daily Press . 16 November 1972 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
20. Web site: Daily Express Five-a-Side Challenge Cup . The Celtic Wiki . 14 July 2020 .
21. Web site: How much did Derby County legend John McGovern's medals net him at auction? . . 7 December 2017 . 14 July 2020 .
22. Web site: Phil Hoadley . Leyton Orient FC . leytonorient.com . 5 May 2025 . 19 July 2024 .
23. Web site: Match: England 2–0 France, 7 November 1974, Plough Lane . Women's Football Archive . 19 July 2024 .
24. Web site: Bailey & co were five-a-side kings . Black & Country Bugle . 27 January 2021 . 14 July 2024 . pressreader.com .
    Web site: The Days Of Five-A-Side! . Wolves Former Players Association . 30 May 2024 . 14 July 2024 .
25. Web site: Wolves lift fives trophy . Express & Star . 6 November 1975 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
26. Web site: Wolves double . Belfast News Letter . 4 November 1976 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
27. Web site: Famous five so close . Coventry Evening Telegraph . 10 November 1977 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
28. Web site: National Daily Express 5-A-Side Competition - Penalty Shoot-out . comicus.co.uk . 6 July 2011 . 14 July 2020 .
29. Web site: Sunderland AFC; Daily Express 5 A Side Winners 1979/80 . ryehillfootball.co.uk . 9 December 2016 . 14 July 2020 .
    Web site: Fever Pitch (Vol 1, Issue 1): August 2016 . safcnasa.com . 2 August 2020 .
30. Web site: BRIGHTON FINISH SECOND IN FIVE-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT . thegoldstonewrap.com . 23 June 2013 . 14 July 2020 .
31. Web site: Villa take fives title . Express & Star . 27 November 1980 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
32. Web site: 25th November 1981- National Five-A-Side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena) . 25 November 1981 . oldwatford.com . 2 August 2020 .
33. Web site: Villa beaten in final . Express & Star . 25 November 1982 . 14 July 2024 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive .
34. Web site: Football Nostalgia: National Daily Express 5-A-Side Competition - Southampton . comicus.co.uk . 17 July 2018 . 14 July 2020.
35. Web site: 21st November 1984- Five-a-side Football National Championship (at Wembley Arena) . 21 November 1984 . oldwatford.com . 14 July 2020.
36. Web site: Oddities: Sunderland's odyssey through a variety of weird & wonderful cup competitions . Roker Report . 15 January 2019 . 2 August 2020 .
37. Web site: Arsenal Programme (v Liverpool, Dec 14, 1985) . eastlower.co.uk . 2 August 2020 .
    Web site: DAILY EXPRESS FIVE-A-SIDE . worthpoint.com . 14 July 2020 .
38. Web site: INDOOR FOOTBALL . Late Tackle Football . 1 October 2017 . 14 July 2020 .
    Web site: Chris Goreham: Rolling with the punches is underpinning City and Farke's promotion assault . . 22 January 2019 . 14 July 2020 .