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]
| Founded | 1954 [1] |
|---|---|
| Region | London, England (The Sports Council) |
| Current champions | Wycomble Wanderers |
| Most successful club(s) | Queen's Park Rangers, (five titles) |
| Television broadcasters | ITV Sky TV (1993–95) |
History edit
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 edit
Titles by Club edit
| Team[2] | Finals Won | Finals Lost | Winning Years | Losing Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Park Rangers | 5 | 2 | 1971, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1985 | 1976, 1978 |
| West Ham United | 3 | 7 | 1967, 1970, 1984 | 1955, 1957, 1960, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1981 |
| Charlton Athletic | 3 | 3 | 1954, 1968, 1975 | 1959, 1980, 1982 |
| Millwall | 3 | 2 | 1978, 1979, 1983 | 1973, 1975 |
| Fulham | 3 | 1 | 1955, 1957, 1982 | 1956 |
| Crystal Palace | 2 | 3 | 1959, 1969 | 1958, 1968, 1979 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 3 | 1956, 1960 | 1954, 1970, 1984 |
| Arsenal | 2 | 2 | 1977, 1981 | 1967, 1985 |
| Leyton Orient | 2 | – | 1958, 1976 | |
| Wycombe Wanderers | 2 | – | 1994, 1995 | |
| Chelsea | 1 | – | 1973 | |
| Watford | 1 | – | 1993 | |
| Brentford | – | 2 | 1969, 1983 | |
| Wimbledon | – | 2 | 1993, 1994 | |
| Luton Town | – | 1 | 1995 | |
| Southampton | – | 1 | 1972 |
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Football Nostalgia: London Evening Standard 5-A-Side Tournament". Comicus. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "London 5-A-Side Football Championships – The 1980s & 90s". Fly So High. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "London 5-A-Side Football Championships – The Early Years". Fly So High. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "INDOOR FOOTBALL". Late Tackle Football Magazine. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "10th May 1960- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". Old Watford. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "London Five-a-side Champions : Wembley 1967". Fly So High. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "23rd April 1969- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". Old Watford. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "BAD NIGHT FOR WEST LONDON CLUBS". West London Times. 2 May 1969. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d e "London 5-A-Side Football Championships – The 1970s". The Fly So High. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "The 1971 London Five-a-Side Football Championship was Won by QPR". Indy Rs. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "A BUNCH OF FIVES!". Orient 1881. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "24th May 1977- London Five-a-side Football Tournament (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". Old Watford. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "London Five-a-Sides". Millwall History. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "10th May 1993- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena)". Old Watford. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
"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. Retrieved 19 July 2020. - ^ "Retro - A look back on the 1993/94 season: May 1994 - Shock Five-a-side success for Wanderers". Chair Boys. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "Wanderers take 5-a-title: Monday 15th May 1995: London Fives at Wembley". Chair Boys. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
External links edit
- Midweek Football Coverage 1968/69 - 1982/83 Midweek Football on TV.
- Evening Standard London 5-a-Sides, 1983 The Football Attic.