The story of United’s indoor football team

The story of United’s indoor football team

Small-sided football competitions are making headlines at the moment, but did you know that Manchester United took part in such a tournament back in the 1980s? This is how…

Soccer Six was launched by the Football League for clubs in the Midlands in 1982, and was won by Birmingham City – who retained their title a year later. The invite was then extended to London clubs, with Arsenal and Tottenham winning the next two tournaments. But it was in 1986, when the venue was switched from the NEC in Birmingham to Manchester that United took an interest.

Alex Ferguson’s side played in four tournaments at the G-Mex Centre, or Manchester Central as it’s known these days, finishing as runners-up to Nottingham Forest in 1987. Our then-boss was familiar with the format having taken charge of Aberdeen in the Scottish equivalent.

Just a month into Sir Alex’s Old Trafford reign, the Reds had fallen at the group stage – losing 2-1 to Oxford United before smashing Chelsea 5-2 in what was effectively a dead rubber. Disappointing, but still enough to get this 12-year old hooked after watching the highlights on BBC’s Sportsnight. The following year, I persuaded my dad to take me along to the first of the three nights.

What I found was a very young crowd of mainly United fans delighting at getting so close to their heroes – not least Brian McClair, who despite wearing an old pair of white trainers (most of them were, actually) was named ‘player of the night’.

United’s 10-man squad, playing 15-minute matches with rolling substitutes, was as follows: Chris Turner, Mike Duxbury, Arthur Albiston, Lee Martin, Jesper Olsen, Gordon Strachan, Clayton Blackmore, Liam O’Brien, McClair, plus youngster David Wilson.

The Reds beat Wimbledon 1-0 (McClair), Luton 3-0 (McClair 2, O’Brien), then reached finals night with a penalty-shootout win against Watford. I’d had a great time but couldn’t persuade my dad to take me back two evenings later, so it was back to the highlights.

Incidentally, I also recall Steve Bruce (possibly on crutches?) being there with Norwich but happily autographing United shirts. With the defender on the verge of joining the Reds, he probably didn’t think it’d do any harm!

On finals night, Alex Ferguson’s side drew a thriller with Tottenham 3-3 (Albiston, McClair, Blackmore), then thrashed a youthful Everton 4-1 (Albiston, McClair 2, Strachan) to reach the final. A stalemate led to a penalty shootout, which Nottingham Forest – complete with Stuart Pearce, Nigel Clough and Neil Webb – won 2-1.

All 21 Division One teams took part the following year, plus second tier Manchester City, but defeat to West Ham then a draw with Derby County ended our hopes – and with it any real interest in indoor football.

By 1991, English clubs were back in European competition and six-a-side matches were once again the preserve of the masses in sports halls up and down the country.

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