London Five-a-Sides explained

Founded:1954[1]
Region:London, England (The Sports Council)
Current Champions:Wycomble Wanderers
Most Successful Club:Queen's Park Rangers, (five titles)
Broadcasters:ITV
Sky TV (1993–95)

The Evening Standard London Five-a-Sides was an annual indoor football tournament organized by the Sports Council (now Sport England). 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.[1]

History

The competition usually took place towards end of the domestic football season in April or May.[1] The competition was on six-year hiatus from 1961 to 1966 and then a seven-year break between 1986 and 1992.[1]

The first venue of choice was the Empress Hall, Earls Court.[1] The second edition was transferred to the Harringay Arena.[1] The event moved to Empire Pool Wembley in 1959.[1] It shared a home with the National Five-a Side tournament that ran from 1968 to 1986.[1]

ITV (Thames Television) covered the best of the action on its late evening show Midweek Sports Special for London and surrounding areas only.[1] The final three editions in the 1990s were shown by Sky TV to a wider audience.[1]

Winners

Years[2] WinnersScoreRunners upRef
1954Charlton Athletic3–1Tottenham Hotspur[3] [4]
1955Fulham4–1West Ham United
1956Tottenham Hotspur2–1Fulham
1957Fulham3–2West Ham United
1958Leyton Orient1–0Crystal Palace
1959Crystal Palace4–1Charlton Athletic
1960Tottenham Hotspur3–1West Ham United[5]
No Competition from 1961–66
1967West Ham United4–0Arsenal[6]
1968Charlton Athletic2–1Crystal Palace
1969Crystal Palace2–0Brentford[7] [8]
1970West Ham United2–1Tottenham Hotspur[9]
1971Queen's Park Rangers1–0West Ham United[10]
1972Queen's Park Rangers3–0Southampton
1973Chelsea2–2
Penalties
Millwall
1974Queen's Park Rangers2–1West Ham United
1975Charlton Athletic5–3Millwall
1976Leyton Orient6–1Queen's Park Rangers[11]
1977Arsenal2–1
After extra time.
West Ham United[12]
1978Millwall3–2Queen's Park Rangers
1979Millwall3–2Crystal Palace
1980Queen's Park Rangers2–1Charlton Athletic
1981Arsenal2–2
2–1 on Penalties
West Ham United
1982Fulham2–0Charlton Athletic
1983Millwall3–2Brentford[13]
1984West Ham United2–1Tottenham Hotspur
1985Queen's Park Rangers3–3
Penalties.
Arsenal
No Competition from1986–92
1993Watford1–1
Penalties.
Wimbledon[14]
1994Wycombe Wanderers0–0
Shoot-out
Wimbledon[15]
1995Wycombe Wanderers0–0
Shoot-out
Luton Town[16]

Titles by Club

TeamFinals WonFinals LostWinning YearsLosing Years
Queen's Park Rangers521971, 1972, 1974, 1980, 19851976, 1978
West Ham United371967, 1970, 19841955, 1957, 1960, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1981
Charlton Athletic331954, 1968, 19751959, 1980, 1982
Millwall321978, 1979, 19831973, 1975
Fulham311955, 1957, 19821956
Crystal Palace231959, 19691958, 1968, 1979
Tottenham Hotspur231956, 19601954, 1970, 1984
Arsenal221977, 19811967, 1985
Leyton Orient21958, 1976
Wycombe Wanderers21994, 1995
Chelsea11973
Watford11993
Brentford21969, 1983
Wimbledon21993, 1994
Luton Town11995
Southampton11972

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Football Nostalgia: London Evening Standard 5-A-Side Tournament . Comicus . 13 July 2018 . 19 July 2020.
  2. Web site: London 5-A-Side Football Championships – The 1980s & 90s . Fly So High . 19 July 2020.
  3. Web site: London 5-A-Side Football Championships – The Early Years . Fly So High . 19 July 2020.
  4. Web site: INDOOR FOOTBALL . Late Tackle Football Magazine . 1 October 2017 . 19 July 2020.
  5. Web site: 10th May 1960- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley) . Old Watford . 19 July 2020.
  6. Web site: London Five-a-side Champions : Wembley 1967 . Fly So High . 19 July 2020.
  7. Web site: 23rd April 1969- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley) . Old Watford . 19 July 2020.
  8. Web site: BAD NIGHT FOR WEST LONDON CLUBS . West London Times . 2 May 1969 . 3 February 2023 . subscription . .
  9. Web site: London 5-A-Side Football Championships – The 1970s . The Fly So High . 19 July 2020.
  10. Web site: The 1971 London Five-a-Side Football Championship was Won by QPR . Indy Rs . 1 July 2020 . 19 July 2020.
  11. Web site: A BUNCH OF FIVES! . Orient 1881 . 7 May 2012 . 19 July 2020.
  12. Web site: 24th May 1977- London Five-a-side Football Tournament (at the Empire Pool, Wembley) . Old Watford . 19 July 2020.
  13. Web site: London Five-a-Sides . Millwall History . 19 July 2020.
  14. Web site: 10th May 1993- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena) . Old Watford . 19 July 2020.
    Web site: RETRO FOOTBALL: THE EVENING STANDARD LONDON 5-A-SIDES – COMPETITIVE CUP PLAYED WITH FIRST TEAM PLAYERS, 1993 . Who Ate All The Pies . 2 August 2013 . 19 July 2020.
  15. Web site: Retro - A look back on the 1993/94 season: May 1994 - Shock Five-a-side success for Wanderers . Chair Boys . 19 July 2020.
  16. Web site: Wanderers take 5-a-title: Monday 15th May 1995: London Fives at Wembley . Chair Boys . 19 July 2020.