The Tennent’s Sixes — the indoor six-a-side tournament that was a fixture of Scottish football between 1984 and 1993 — returns this weekend at Braehead Arena with former players representing each of Scotland’s 12 top-flight clubs.
- Tennent’s Sixes returns at Braehead Arena in 2026 with former players representing Scotland’s 12 top-flight clubs.
- Event plays on an artificial surface laid over the arena ice and stages group matches on Saturday with a final on Sunday.
- The revival taps into nostalgia for the 1984–1993 tournament era while avoiding use of current first-team players due to modern welfare and commercial concerns.
What’s happening and who’s involved
Organisers have laid an artificial playing surface over Braehead’s ice rink for a two-day event that stages group matches on Saturday and a final on Sunday evening. Teams are made up of ex-professionals linked to each of Scotland’s current top-tier clubs. Among those named to take part are Rangers coach and former midfielder Barry Ferguson, who will lead a Rangers side that includes Charlie Adam and Andy Halliday; Celtic’s squad is reported to feature Aiden McGeady and Charlie Mulgrew; and Hearts will have Rudi Skacel in action. Dundee’s Gary Harkins and Hibernian’s Scott Allan are also involved in playing or managing roles.
Why the revival matters
The Sixes was once a mainstream mid-season event with first-team players officially released to take part. The tournament produced memorable moments: Davie Cooper scored the first-ever Sixes goal and John Collins was part of Celtic’s successful 1992 entry. The event also drew unexpected participants — in 1988 Nottingham Forest, managed by Brian Clough, took part, and Dundee won that year. Partick Thistle were the last winners, in 1993.
The return underlines how much the game has changed since the 1980s and early 1990s. Current clubs rarely release first-team players for non-competitive exhibition events because of financial stakes, workload planning and medical caution. Players taking to a makeshift indoor surface now will generally be ex-professionals rather than those on current competitive contracts.
Memories, tankards and the tournament’s character
One of the Sixes’ enduring images is its informal prize: instead of a cash award teams were presented with tankards from sponsors, a detail that captured the event’s party atmosphere. Gerry Britton, part of Partick Thistle’s 1993 squad and now the club’s chief executive, recalled how his team celebrated with tankards in Glasgow’s Savoy club. That blend of football and fun is central to why the tournament retains a cult following.
Practicalities and player welfare
Organisers have adapted the format for former players: the matches will be played on an artificial surface rolled out over the arena ice rather than a permanent indoor pitch. Participants are described in coverage as the “creaky joints” of Scottish football, acknowledging the older age and physical conditions of many players involved. Coverage notes concerns that a similar event using current first-team players would be unthinkable today, with examples cited about modern clubs’ reluctance to risk injuries to high-value signings.
Context: tournaments then and now
Between 1984 and 1993 the Sixes offered mid-season spectacle and local TV draw. Its revival taps into nostalgia for a era when top players could be released for such weekend fixtures. Contemporary football’s increased commercialisation and medical protocols largely ended the era of top-flight first-team participation in novelty tournaments. The 2026 version uses former players to preserve the spirit while acknowledging modern clubs’ priorities.
What to expect at Braehead
- Group-stage matches across Saturday followed by knockout rounds culminating in a Sunday evening final.
- Teams representing Scotland’s 12 top-flight clubs composed of former professionals, some of whom are managing or coaching their sides for the weekend.
- A raised social element: the tournament’s history with tankards and post-match celebrations is being embraced as part of the event’s atmosphere.
What this does and does not confirm
Reporting confirms the tournament’s return to Braehead and lists named former players and managers involved such as Barry Ferguson, Charlie Adam, Andy Halliday, Aiden McGeady, Charlie Mulgrew, Rudi Skacel, Gary Harkins and Scott Allan. Historical facts about the Sixes — including its original 1984–1993 run, Davie Cooper’s first goal, Nottingham Forest’s 1988 participation under Brian Clough, Dundee’s 1988 win and Partick Thistle being the last winners in 1993 — are noted in contemporary coverage and cited here as reported.
This article does not confirm modern first-team players taking part, any contract or fee details for the 2026 event, broadcast arrangements or prize specifics beyond the historical reference to tankards. Organisers’ precise match schedule and ticketing information should be consulted from the event’s official channels.
Why G3.Football readers should care
The Sixes revival is a nostalgic footnote with wider resonance: it shows how tournament formats can be retooled to celebrate history without risking current squads, and it presents a social, community-focused weekend for fans of Scottish football. For supporters of the clubs involved, it is a chance to see former players in a more relaxed setting and reconnect with a distinctive slice of the game’s past.
Timeline: the Sixes at a glance
- 1984: The Tennent’s Sixes is inaugurated and establishes itself as a mid-season indoor competition.
- 1988: Davie Cooper’s early-era contributions noted; Nottingham Forest, managed by Brian Clough, took part and Dundee won that year.
- 1992: Celtic claimed victory with John Collins among their squad.
- 1993: Partick Thistle won the final staged Sixes; the tournament ceased thereafter until the 2026 revival at Braehead.
Coverage of the event describes the returning players as veteran participants and highlights the social, celebratory spirit embodied by the tankard prizes of the past. For match times, tickets and official announcements, follow the event organisers’ published information.