Thirty-three years after Partick Thistle carried the trophy out of the SECC, the Tennent’s Sixes will return with official SPFL backing. Today’s coordinated 1pm announcement from the SPFL and several Premiership clubs confirms a two-day legends tournament at Braehead Arena on 3 and 4 October, featuring all 12 Premiership clubs and shown live on Premier Sports.
This nostalgia-infused article will first describe how the 2026 tournament will work before looking at the original tournament played from 1984 to 1993, and the masters tournaments we’ve had since then.
The 2026 Reincarnation
Firstly, the big difference is that unlike the original tournament - this won’t be current players of the Premiership clubs. To be fair, it is a little mental to think that the clubs used to release players to play in a six-a-side indoor tournament against their rival clubs in the middle of the season! But anyway, the game’s gone etc and so this will just be another ‘legends’ tournament, with the squads still to be announced.
There will be four sessions, two on Saturday and two on the Sunday - with an hour break in between each session to turn the fans around (you need one ticket per session). The 12 teams will be broken into three regional groups of four, all playing two games on Saturday and one on Sunday.
The weekend was chosen because it falls during an international break. with the Saturday night session closing with the Old Firm derby, finishing at 7pm - 45 minutes before the Scotland national team kick off their Nations League in North Macedonia.
After the three groups conclude at 3:30pm on the Sunday, the group winners and runners-up will advance with the two best third-placed teams, producing an eight-team knockout stage from 4:30pm-8pm on Sunday night.
As in the League Cup group stage, any match level at full time will go to penalties, with the shootout winner collecting a bonus point. The famous sin bin also returns!
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.”
Tickets are available from spfltennentssixes.co.uk, and a ticket covers you for one of the four sessions.
Prices are:
£25 for adults (£35 for final)
£18 for kids (£22 for final)
£100 for hospitality, which includes
Access to Exclusive hospitality Clansman Lounge
Premium centre seat
Buffet
Post match Interviews
3x drink tokens per person
Exclusive VIP gift
I think this is a fairly priced fun event on an otherwise Premiership free weekend. I wonder if we’ll be treated to a lights and laser show like they were at Coasters Arena in Falkirk 1984!
The Original Tournament
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