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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.

History

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

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

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

Originally, only First Division and Second Division clubs from the Football League were eligible to participate.

List of Finals

Titles by Club

References

1. ^ "Football Nostalgia: London Evening Standard 5-A-Side Tournament". comicus.co.uk. 13 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
2. "Football Nostalgia: Tony Incenzo on Special Trains And Five-A-Side Tournaments". 888sport.com. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
3. "SPECIAL! Watch Fulham and Che sea five-a-sides". West London Observer. 8 April 1955. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
4. ^ "INDOOR FOOTBALL". Late Tackle Football. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via pressreader.com.
5. ^ "Other activities". My Eyes Have Seen The Glory. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
6. ^ "1950 -1959 Trophy Cabinet". flysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
7. "A SHOCK FOR FULHAM". Croydon Advertiser. 9 May 1958. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "PIERCE SCORES FOUR GOALS AT HARRINGAY". Croydon Times. 9 May 1958. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
9. "THE NIGHT PALACE HAD THEIR OWN BACK ON ARSENAL". Croydon Advertiser. 8 May 1959. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "GLAZIERS ARE BEST AT FIVE A SIDE". Sydenham Gazette. 8 May 1959. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "10th May 1960- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
12. "London Five-a-side Champions : Wembley 1967". flysohigh.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
13. "23rd April 1969- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
14. "BAD NIGHT FOR WEST LONDON CLUBS". West London Times. 2 May 1969. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
15. "The 1971 London Five-a-Side Football Championship was Won by QPR". indyrs.co.uk. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
16. "5 May 1971- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
17. "2nd May 1973- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
18. "BEES BEAT RANGERS IN "FIVES"". Middlesex Chronicle. 4 May 1973. Retrieved 3 February 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
19. "Phil Hoadley". leytonorient.com. Leyton Orient FC. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
20. "Stay-at-home Bowles plays five-a-side". Fulham Chronicle. 7 May 1976. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
21. "24th May 1977- London Five-a-side Football Tournament (at the Empire Pool, Wembley)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
22. "FIVES FAILURE". Hammersmith Gazette. 2 June 1977. Retrieved 19 July 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
23. "30th April 1980- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
24. "Fulham toast of five-a-side". Fulham Chronicle. 9 April 1982. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
25. "London Five-a-Sides". Millwall History. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
    "Millwall 1982-83 Season Review". Millwall History. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
26. "Bees Gold: Stan Bowles and Brentford reach 1983 Evening Standard Final". brentfordfc.com. Brentford FC. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
27. "28th March 1984- London Five-a-side Football Championships (at Wembley Arena)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
28. "13th March 1985- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
29. "10th May 1993- London Five-a-side Football Championship (at Wembley Arena)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
30. "Fives agony". Croydon Advertiser. 14 May 1993. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
31. "Retro - A look back on the 1993/94 season: May 1994 - Shock Five-a-side success for Wanderers". Chair Boys. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
    "9th May 1994- London Fives (at Wembley Arena)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
32. "Happy Wanderers!". Lincolnshire Echo. 10 May 1994. Retrieved 19 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
33. "Wanderers take 5-a-title: Monday 15th May 1995: London Fives at Wembley". Chair Boys. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
34. "15th May 1995- London Fives (at Wembley Arena)". oldwatford.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.

External links

• Midweek Football Coverage 1968/69 - 1982/83 Midweek Football on TV.
• Evening Standard London 5-a-Sides, 1983 The Football Attic.

• Indoor soccer competitions
• Recurring sporting events established in 1954
• 1954 establishments in England
• 1995 disestablishments in England
• Defunct football cup competitions in England
• Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1995
• London Evening Standard