| Founded: | 1968[1] |
| Region: | England (The FA) |
| Current Champions: | Norwich City (1st title) |
| Most Successful Club: | Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton (2 titles) |
| Broadcasters: | BBC |
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 (and televised up to 1983).[1]
The competition was held at Wembley Arena to packed crowds of between 8,000 and 10,000.[1] It was sponsored by the Daily Express.[1] The competition was a covered by the BBC and highlighted on their Wednesday Sportsnight programme.[1] [2] The last televised edition was in 1983.[1]
Scottish football teams received invites.[3] Other indoor tournaments popular around this time included Evening Standard London Five-a-Side (around since 1954) and Guinness Soccer Six (inspired by MISL) competitions.[3] Both Five-a-Side tournaments shared a home at the Wembley Arena between 1968 and 1986.[4]
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]
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners up | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Charlton Athletic | 1–0 | Gillingham | [5] | |
| 1969 | 2–1 | Swindon Town | [6] | ||
| 1970 | 2–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | [7] [8] | ||
| 1971 | Southampton | ||||
| 1972 | Penalties | Ipswich Town | [9] | ||
| 1973 | Derby County | 3–1 | Celtic | [10] [11] | |
| 1974 | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | [12] | ||
| 1975 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||||
| 1976 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||||
| 1977 | 3–1 | Coventry City | |||
| 1978 | Crystal Palace | 2–2 Penalties | Chelsea | [13] | |
| 1979 | Sunderland | 2–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | [14] | |
| 1980 | Aston Villa | ||||
| 1981 | Celtic | 1–0 | Southampton | [15] | |
| 1982 | Arsenal | ||||
| 1983 | Southampton | 3–0 | Leicester City | [16] [17] | |
| 1984 | Watford | 1–0 | Aston Villa | [18] [19] | |
| 1985 | Oxford United | 2–2 Penalties | Arsenal | [20] | |
| 1986 | Norwich City | 5–0 | Manchester City | [21] |