Scottish football is bringing back one of its cult classics. The Tennent's Soccer Sixes — a staple of the indoor scene for nine years from 1984 — returns this October with a legends format featuring all 12 Scottish Premiership clubs.
The revived tournament takes place at Braehead Arena on 3 and 4 October, backed by the SPFL and broadcast on Premier Sports. It's nostalgia with some structure behind it.
How it works
Saturday covers the group stage, with clubs split into three regionalised groups of four. The winner and runner-up from each group advance to the knockouts, joined by the best third-placed side. Every match produces a winner — draws go to a penalty shootout, with a bonus point on offer for winning it. The sin bin will also be in play, which should keep things lively.
The format rewards attacking intent, and with legends rather than current squads on show, expect plenty of players who have nothing to prove and everything to enjoy. That tends to make for decent viewing.
One notable absentee: Partick Thistle. Currently in the Championship rather than the Premiership, they won't be part of this year's event — which is a minor irony given they were the last team to win the original tournament back in 1993. The kings of the format, locked out by a league table.
Why it matters beyond the nostalgia
The SPFL's backing signals this isn't just a one-off cash-in on old memories. Indoor six-a-side with legends draws a specific crowd — fans who watched these players in their prime, clubs looking to engage supporters during the international break window. If the broadcast deal on Premier Sports pulls decent numbers, a full revival with current squads becomes a real conversation.
For now, it's a weekend of familiar faces, penalty shootouts, and sin bins. The last time Scottish football did this properly, Partick Thistle walked away with the trophy. They won't be there to defend that legacy in October.
