The inaugural Tennent's Sixes was played at Coasters Arena in Falkirk on 16 and 17 January 1984. Nine clubs from the 1983–84 Scottish Premier Division entered, with Aberdeen the only top-flight side absent. The tournament was televised on BBC Scotland.
Rangers won the competition after coming from 4–2 behind to defeat Dundee 6–4 in the final.
Format Three groups of three were used. The three group winners and the best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals.
Group matches had two halves of seven and a half minutes; the knockout matches had two ten-minute halves. Rolling substitutions were allowed. A yellow card meant two minutes in the sin bin, and goalkeepers could hold the ball for no more than six seconds.
A penalty shoot-out settled matches which finished level. Only one group game required one, with St Mirren beating Dundee United 3–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.
Group stage
Group 1
Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Rangers 2 2 0 5 2 +3 4 St Johnstone 2 1 1 5 5 0 2 Hibernian 2 0 2 2 5 −3 0
Team Score Team Date Rangers 3–2 St Johnstone 16 January 1984 Rangers 2–0 Hibernian 16 January 1984 St Johnstone 3–2 Hibernian 17 January 1984
Group 2
Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Dundee 2 2 0 8 2 +6 4 Celtic 2 1 1 4 4 0 2 Heart of Midlothian 2 0 2 0 6 −6 0
Team Score Team Date Dundee 4–2 Celtic 16 January 1984 Dundee 4–0 Heart of Midlothian 16 January 1984 Celtic 2–0 Heart of Midlothian 17 January 1984
Group 3
Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Dundee United 2 1 1 4 3 +1 2 Motherwell 2 1 1 5 5 0 2 St Mirren 2 1 1 3 4 −1 2
Team Score Team Date Dundee United 3–2 Motherwell 16 January 1984 St Mirren 1–1St Mirren won 3–2 on penalties Dundee United 16 January 1984 Motherwell 3–2 St Mirren 17 January 1984
Dundee United won Group 3 on goal difference, while Motherwell qualified as the best runner-up.
Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Team Score Team Date Rangers 2–1 Motherwell 17 January 1984 Dundee 4–2 Dundee United 17 January 1984
Dundee's goals in the city derby came from George McGeachie, Iain Ferguson, Lex Richardson and Albert Kidd. Davie Dodds scored both Dundee United goals.
Final
Team Score Team Date Rangers 6–4 Dundee 17 January 1984
Dundee's goals came from Iain Ferguson, who scored twice, Tosh McKinlay and Ray Stephen. Rangers had two goals each from Bobby Williamson and Davie Cooper, with Ally Dawson and Billy Davies also scoring.
Dundee were 4–2 ahead with less than six minutes remaining. Cooper converted a penalty before Davies equalised and Williamson put Rangers in front. Ferguson then had a penalty saved, and Cooper scored the final goal of the match.
Prize money Every club received £3,000 for entering. Further payments depended on how far each club progressed.
Payment Amount Tournament participation £3,000 Additional payment to losing semi-finalists £1,000 Additional payment to runners-up £1,500 Additional payment to winners £2,000
Other events Falkirk and East Stirlingshire played for the Falkirk Herald Cup before the tournament, while six amateur clubs contested a separate Coasters Trophy.
Davie Cooper scored the first goal in Tennent's Sixes history during Rangers' opening match against St Johnstone.
Rangers manager Jock Wallace Jr. asked Alex Totten to take charge of the side for the tournament. Totten later included the inaugural Sixes victory among his career memories.
References
External links Tennent's Soccer Sixes at the Scottish Football Historical Archive