Iconic Tennent’s Sixes set for return with Scottish football legends

The Tennent’s Sixes, an iconic Scottish football staple of the 1980s and 1990s, will return this autumn to Braehead Arena with the official backing of the SPFL.

All 12 William Hill Premiership clubs have signed up for a legends edition of the small-sided tournament, with heroes from the recent past set to wear this season’s official club kits.

The SPFL Tennent’s Sixes will take place at Braehead Arena on October 3 and 4, with all the action broadcast live on Premier Sports.

The original Tennent’s Sixes captured the imagination of a generation of Scottish football fans during its nine-year run from 1984 to 1993.

Partick Thistle were the last winners of the cult trophy, and organisers SPFL and Braehead Arena have worked quietly for months to bring the tournament back, creating a family experience that combines nostalgia with a modern twist.

Every game will have a winner, with a bonus point awarded for a penalty shootout victory in the event of a draw. The sin bin will also make a comeback.

Saturday’s group stages will begin with three regionalised groups of four. The winner and runner-up from each group will progress to the knockout stages, alongside the two best third-placed teams.

Neil Doncaster, SPFL group chief executive, said: “The Tennent’s Sixes has a special place in the hearts and minds of a generation of football fans and we are absolutely thrilled to get the band back together again with the official endorsement of the SPFL.

“There are many unofficial Masters events but only one SPFL Tennent’s Sixes: the original and best and one we are proud to put our name to, with the support and involvement of all 12 William Hill Premiership clubs.”

The history of the Tennent’s Sixes

The inaugural tournament in 1984 was contested at Coasters Arena in Falkirk, before being moved to Ingliston Showground near Edinburgh.

From 1986, however, it found a permanent home at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow, with fans of clubs in the top flight of Scottish football creating a raucous atmosphere on the banks of the River Clyde.

Meanwhile, more supporters watched from home as the entire two-day competition was broadcast live on STV.

This wasn’t a Masters-style exhibition with retired players coming back for one last kickabout. The players were in their prime and wanted to win.

Clubs such as Rangers, Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts each selected six of their stars to represent them, with the likes of Davie Cooper, John Robertson, Jim Leighton and John Collins among those to have graced the event.

The last-ever Tennent’s Sixes took place over the weekend of January 24/25 in 1993 and was won in thrilling fashion by Partick Thistle, who defeated Airdrie 4-3 in the final.

Partick Thistle celebrate winning the last Tennent's Sixes. — Partick Thistle celebrate winning the last Tennent’s Sixes. SNS Group

As the last-ever winners, Thistle have custody of the Tennent’s Sixes trophy, which sits pride of place in the trophy room of the club’s ground in Maryhill.

What was the previous format?

Matches at the Tennent’s Sixes were played in two halves of seven-and-a-half minutes during the first round and two halves of ten minutes during the knockout stages.

Goalkeepers could only hold on to the ball for six seconds and, from 1991, teams were required to leave at least two players in the opposition half – a move designed to increase the number of goals.

Two yellow lines separated the field into thirds. Players could only shoot in the attacking third and the ball had to be passed through each zone before a goal could be scored.

Who played in the Tennent’s Sixes?

The Tennent’s Sixes tournament was played ten times and won by seven different clubs – no side was dominant in winning the event.

Here are the finals that took place from 1984 to 1994 and see how many players you recognise in the photos below, which show some of the teams to have laid their hands on the trophy.

	*Champions*	Runners-up	Final score
1984	Rangers	Dundee	6-4
1985	Hearts	Morton	4-1
1986	Aberdeen	St Mirren	3-0
1987	Aberdeen	Hearts	4-3
1988	Dundee	Motherwell	3-2
1989	Rangers	Motherwell	2-1
1990	Hibs	St Mirren	3-0
1991	Hearts	Motherwell	5-3
1992	Celtic	St Johnstone	4-2
1993	Partick Thistle	Airdrieonians	4-3