National Five-a-Sides (England)


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. The competition was contested between 1968 and 1986.

History

The Daily Express sponsored competition was held at Wembley Arena to packed crowds of between 8,000 and 10,000. The competition was a covered by the BBC and highlighted on their Wednesday Sportsnight programme. The last televised edition was in 1983.
There was no coverage of the 1985 edition because of the TV blackout on football in England at the time.
Scottish football teams received invites. Other indoor tournaments popular around this time included Evening Standard London Five-a-Sides and Guinness Soccer Six competitions. Both the national and London fives tournaments shared a home at the Wembley Arena between 1968 and 1986.
Matches were split in two four minute halves. Time limits for matches increased as the tournament progressed. Though match lengths altered over the years. Any drawn matches were resolved with a penalty shoot-out. The rules included no passbacks to the goalkeeper and the ball must remain below shoulder height.

Competing teams

List of Finals

SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upFinal scorersRef
1967–68Charlton Athletic1–0GillinghamPeacock
1968–69No competition. Tournament moved from May to November.No competition. Tournament moved from May to November.No competition. Tournament moved from May to November.No competition. Tournament moved from May to November.
1969–70Manchester City2–1Swindon TownBell, Young; Rodgers
1970–71Manchester United2–1Tottenham HotspurBest ; Knowles
1971–72Southampton0–0
Leicester City
1972–73Tottenham Hotspur2– 2
Ipswich TownHolder, Pratt, Pearce; Hamilton, Viljoen
1973–74Derby County3–1Celtic
1974–75Leyton Orient2–0Tottenham HotspurHoadley
1975–76Wolverhampton Wanderers3–1Tottenham HotspurBailey, Hibbitt, Carr; McNab
1976–77Wolverhampton Wanderers2–1Stoke CityDaley, Hibbitt; Lumsdon
1977–78Ipswich Town3–1Coventry City; Oakey
1978–79Crystal Palace2–2
Penalties		Chelsea
1979–80Sunderland2–0Brighton & Hove AlbionArnott, Buckley
1980–81Aston Villa3–0ChelseaEvans, Swain, Bremner
1981–82Celtic1–0SouthamptonNicholas
1982–83Arsenal2–0Aston VillaMcDermott, Talbot
1983–84Southampton3–0Aston VillaWallace, Moran, Holmes
1984–85Watford1–0Aston VillaSterling
1985–86Oxford United2–2
Arsenal; Sansom
1986–87Norwich City5–0Manchester CityPutney, Culverhouse, Gordon