Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
David McLean

Remembering the pure bedlam that was the Tennent's Sixes at Glasgow's SECC

Glasgow's SECC has hosted loads of amazing events down the years, from star-studded rock concerts and Commonwealth Games events to major conventions and the annual Irn-Bru Carnival.

But for footy fans there was one show at the venue that topped the lot. We are of course talking about the SFA's legendary Tennent's Sixes.

Launched in 1984, the annual indoor football tournament was held every January and mainly featured participants from the top flight of Scottish football, then called the Scottish Premier Division.

READ MORE: 150 years since pioneering Glasgow football match that was the world's first international game

Falkirk and Edinburgh had the honour of hosting the first couple of tournaments, but in 1985 the Tennent's Sixes was moved to a venue that would become its spiritual home: Glasgow's newly-built SECC.

The general format of the Sixes incorporated a league and knockout phase. Two groups of 10 teams would battle it out with only the top two sides qualifying for semi-finals.

Sign up to our Glasgow Live nostalgia newsletters for more local history and heritage content straight to your inbox

The tournament was especially popular with families as the six-a-side aspect pretty much guaranteed a barrage of goals in every single game, with the ball going from one end of the pitch to the other in the blink of an eye.

The frenetic pace of the tournaments suited the more technically-gifted players and how novel it was to see our heroes strut their stuff on the compact astro turf pitches.

Hearts, Aberdeen and Rangers all won the tournament on two occasions, with Celtic, Partick, Hibs and Dundee each lifting the trophy once. The highlights would be broadcast on STV and proved a real ratings winner.

Sadly, all good things must eventually come to an end. Main sponsors Tennent Caledonian Breweries announced they would be cutting ties with the tournament in 1993 and despite hordes of fans hoping it would be able to continue, it never did. Partick Thistle were the final winners of the tournament, defeating Airdrieonians 4-3 on January 25, 1993.

While it's now been more than 30 years since the tournament ended, Scottish football fans have never given up hope of a revival and the Sixes remain a regular point of discussion on football forums and social media groups.

Recalling the glory days of the Tennent's Sixes, @johndoyle10778 recently tweeted: "Tennent sixes was brilliant when I was a kid. Loved rushing home to watch it. Looked forward to it every year. Sadly missed."

@sobaan_afzal wrote: "Used to love the Tennents sixes, they should scrap the league cup and bring back this."

@Mark7814465268 commented: "Bring it back, what a buzz it was going to see that as a wean.. plus I don't like the fact that [Partick] Thistle are the ongoing holders."

@celtmuppet said: "The Sixes were fantastic. Wee Miller won it twice if I mind right, Aberdeen and Celtic. Collins, Miller and Davie Cooper with Motherwell are the players that really stuck in my mind, they ripped other players to bits."

@m13998306 added: "Was ace night out. Players made themselves accessible for autographs etc between games. Remember me and my mates speaking to John Gahagan of Motherwell and him spending a bit of time to ask us all our favourite players etc. These things mean a lot when you are a wee guy."

READ NEXT:

Throwback Glasgow footage takes us round city centre shops in 1993

Things we could do in ‘00s Glasgow that we can’t do anymore

Eminem at Hampden and 12 other brilliant Glasgow photos that'll take you back to 2003

Looking back at Glasgow’s first electric tram that the city welcomed 124 years ago today

Street songs you’ll know word for word if you grew up in Glasgow

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.