Opinion: Bring back six-a-side football!

In my youth, there was an excitement about seeing the top players in this new environment and how they would handle the indoor surroundings.

I always thought Jesper Olsen and Gordon Strachan were particularly neat and skilful players who would help Manchester United thrive in the small-sided game and the action was always fast and furious.

Having spoken to Jesper about it recently, something my young self watching on television would have been awestruck by, it was clear that he enjoyed it - and valued its regular place in the calendar.

While speaking to Jesper for an Inside United interview he said of his prowess in the indoor game: "Well, that is because it is how we grew up in Denmark. In the winter, we always played indoors for three or four months.

"So that was something we grew up with and I became quite good at it."

Olsen was also very impressive on the plastic pitches at the time and added: "We [he and Strachan] were probably slight of build and fast and stuff like that. I always enjoyed playing at those places, it was not a problem at all."

There was a momentum behind it and Football League secretary Graham Kelly championed its appeal. 

"Although FIFA have experimented with their own five-a-side version of indoor football, it is likely that Soccer Six will prove to be a greater attraction for the professional game because it provides a much more exhilarating spectacle," he said. "It would seem only a matter of time before European tournaments evolve."

For all the buzz I remember around the Soccer Six tournament, and Jesper's undoubted skills, United never won it.

One of the reasons the event was set up was due the ban on English clubs participating in European competitions, after Heysel Stadium Disaster in 1985.

Highlights and I think even live finals were shown on BBC's Sportsnight, which came on very late in the evening for those who had school in the morning (if my memory serves me right, ITV's Midweek Sports Special was even later at 10:30pm) but allowances were always made in my family when United were involved in any way, shape or form.

The venue was switched from the Midlands to Manchester's G-Mex and yet still the Reds could not lift the trophy although, in 1987, only a penalty shootout defeat to Nottingham Forest denied Alex Ferguson's men in the final.

A capacity crowd of 5,500 attended and you just know the boss would have loved to get his hands on that prize!

Unfortunately, it came to an end.

Guinness withdrew their sponsorship in the summer of 1989 but it still continued. Luton Town defeated Liverpool in the 1990 final but, with English clubs returning to Europe in the following year, when United won the European Cup-Winners' Cup, it was time to call it a day.

I know I am not alone in yearning for its return, however unlikely that may be.

My friend and colleague Paul Davies, the United Review programme editor, attended the event so I know he feels likewise.

I appreciate with insurance for the top players and an already congested schedule, it's pretty impossible that we would see the stars of today taking part in the indoor game. It's not as if top-level pitches are frozen now either and there are times when there is a need to play inside.

There has been a return with legends getting involved which was good but not really the same, unfortunately.

Yet I can't help imagining what great fun a one-off event would be, featuring squads from the Premier League sides. Particularly if it was staged to help a worthy charity. Who would you pick as United's starting six? There's something worthy of a debate.

I'd go for: Onana, Martinez, Shaw; Fernandes, Amad, Antony. 

I say this with absolutely no knowledge of how proficient any of them are at six-a-side but it's my guess that they would all excel in it. See, that's my point, we just don't know! Bring it back!

The opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Manchester United Football Club.