The Music Industry Soccer Six started life thirteen years ago at Mile End Stadium in the East End of London. In surroundings somewhat more humble than today’s, celebrities including Jarvis Cocker, Damon Albarn, Shed Seven, Apollo440, Gene, Jamiroquai, Nick Moran and Jude Law all laced up their boots for our inaugural event.
The response to the tournament had been hot indeed, though the weather was not. In torrential rain the stars slid around in an attempt to become our first champions. The mud flew and ironically our first charity was ‘Shelter’!
Apollo 440 achieved mission impossible, berating the Shed Seven team 5-1 in the final. Those players and fans bold enough to brave the weather were treated to the sight of busty model Lindsey Dawn Mackenzie chasing Jarvis Cocker across the pitch topless! Despite the adverse conditions the stars came out to play and everyone got the feeling that Soccer Six was a bit special.
The following years have seen a vast array of domestic and international celebrities making their way to the Soccer Six.
Back at Mile End the following year the sun shone down and over 5,000 screaming fans turned up to cheer on their favourite stars.
Right at the height of their chart rivalry Oasis and Blur turned up to settle the score on the pitch. Pulp and Jarvis Cocker were back, with guest player Robbie Williams. Jarvis even flew in from Hawaii to play! This Soccer Six though will always be remembered as the day that Liam Gallagher and Damon Albarn finally came face to face on the football pitch after weeks of fighting it out at the top of the charts and in the media. Robbie Williams later guested for Liam (yes they were mates at the time) in the Oasis team in their match against Damon’s Blur. It was rockers Reef however a little known and last minute entry that went on to claim victory beating holders Apollo 440 in the final.
1997 saw Soccer Six take place in its first Football League stadium. Fulham F.C.’s famous Craven Cottage in swanky southwest London played host to the third Soccer Six. By now the event was big news in the fraternity of celebrity footballers and the media. The now coveted trophy was up for grabs again and fighting for glory were, Robbie Williams, Damon Albarn, Iron Maiden, Mark Owen, Stereophonics, The Lightning Seeds, The Levellers and Shed Seven.
Damon Albarn’s beloved Chelsea had won the F.A. cup the day before and he turned up rather shakily on his scooter, nursing an almighty hangover. One swift ‘hair of the dog’ later the Blur kitted out in Chelsea blue had embarked on a glorious run. Scoring goals for fun throughout the tournament they eventually triumphed in the final, beating The Levellers 4-1, this score line included a hat trick from Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris.
Soccer Six returned to its spiritual home of Mile End Stadium in 1998 to create a festival of football and music. The Williams boy had really caught the Soccer Six bug and A’La Real Madrid had assembled as fine a team of musical mercenaries as the tournament had ever seen. They were warm favourites although Blur, James, Ocean Colour Scene, Space, Stereophonics and Supergrass were not going to roll over too easily!
Besides the usual streakers, ‘The Fastest Man in Pop’ competition saw the most controversial moment of the day. Previous winners Leeroy from The Prodigy and Dominic from Reef were surprisingly beaten by a smoking, joking barefoot Finley Quaye who legged it home with the title and the trophy presented to him by Cerys Matthews of Catatonia.
By passing ‘Real Williams’ the James team cut a determined path to the final, where they met the previous years champions Blur. In a thoroughly one sided final the champions were trounced 8-1! In true rock ‘n’ roll fashion the new title holders James went on to smash up the trophy with an axe and set fire to it during their celebratory party! A hastily convened disciplinary tribunal invoked our first ever suspension.
In 1999 the new trophy was unveiled and so was our fantastic new venue- Chelsea F.C.’s Stamford Bridge.
The stars came out to play in our biggest line up ever and over 8000 noisy fans were there to witness it.
Robbie, Damon, Mick Hucknall, Terrorvision, Ant & Dec, Mark Owen, Fat Les, Goldie and Bush got their kits on in our glamourous new surroundings. In a new trend, non music celebrities were negotiating high profile transfers into various teams, these included: Lennox Lewis, Peter Beardsley, Jamie Theakston, Chris Eubank and the cast of Lock Stock. Gail Porter, Cat Deeley and Sara Cox lit up the girl’s games.
Robbie’s efforts were finally rewarded with a smooth passage to the final where they met Keith Allens Fat Les team. Fat Les surged to a surprising 3-1 lead with five minutes to play. Deafening roars came from Robbie’s fans urging his team on in this thrilling final and almost constant pressure saw ‘The Egos’ just snatch back a goal with two minutes to go. However Keith Allen was the hero on the day and there was a new name on the new Cup- Fat Les!
In true football style the Cup was paraded through the streets of London in Keith’s London taxi cab before the team went off to celebrate properly at ‘Team HQ’- exclusive celebrity haunt The Groucho.
The Cup remained on show in a cabinet in The Groucho until May 2000 when many faces old and new returned to Stamford Bridge. Our attendance record was well and truly broken yet again with over 10,000 fans cheering on the stars.
Robbie Williams’ team at last won The Soccer Six trophy beating a competitive Ant & Dec. Outstanding performers in the winning team included Robbie’s best pal Jonathan Wilkes up front and Jamie ‘The Cat’ Theakston in goal. Earlier Rod Stewart, who had flown in from America especially for us scored a hat trick and ended up as the second highest scorer in the whole tournament!
In the girls event Cat Deeley’s team including Gail Porter, Lisa Rogers, Edith Bowman, Kirsty Gallacher and scorer Helen Chamberlain emerged victorious, though despite pleas from the boys couldn’t be persuaded to swap shirts at the end!
The Music Industry Soccer Six achieved an unrivalled level of success in 2001 with a massive 12,000 people attending to cheer on some of the biggest names in T.V., Sport and Entertainment. A strong line up including Simply Red, Angus Deayton, Patrick Kielty, Blur, Toploader and Five showed up. Steps and Damage even sang on stage wearing their kits! But after some great games it was Ant & Dec that dispelled their last years disappointment with a spirited run to the final that saw them beat Rod Stewart and George Best’s team in a compelling final inspired by their prodigal uncle, Peter Beardsley. Dec scored several goals and at the other end Ant made some great saves including a penalty! This squad was now beginning to gel and turn into the Real Madrid of Soccer Six.
With Jordan’s team winning the girls event Soccer Six was now perfectly placed to answer popular demand and head North.
So off we went on Virgin Rails First Class train with favourites Ant & Dec to Anfield home of Liverpool F.C. in May 2002. The Westlife and So Solid Crew boys had confidently put forward their Soccer Six squads for the first time but it was legendary rockers Iron Maiden that posed the biggest threat to Ant & Dec who were without ‘Uncle Beardsley’. A more than ample replacement was found in the form of Liverpool legend Ian Rush who true to form began scoring at will. All fours teams battled away reaching the semi finals in front of the famous Kop before a jubilant Ant & Dec again held aloft the famous trophy breaking the hearts of the spirited So Solid Crew in the final.
The girls from Mis-Teeq were splendid all day (and their football was good too) as they won the trophy from Six Chicks from Hollyoaks and Brookside. Alesha held the cup up along with her Fastest Woman in Pop gong, made all the sweeter as partner Harvey had earlier claimed the men’s crown!
It was with heavy heads that the Soccer Six crew tentatively boarded the train the following morning and began preparing for the Stamford Bridge extravaganza the following week. Blue, Goldie and Vinnie Jones had put forward useful squads. In a tournament of shocks warm favourites Rod Stewarts team were beaten by ex champions Fat Les and Blue entertained us all with their fast, flowing football. But it was the trusted old campaigners Ant & Dec that reached their third final in four years! Waiting for them were Nicky, Bryan and the Westlife boys who had engaged the services of none other than ex England captain Bryan Robson who typically inspired them to an unbelievable 3-2 victory.
Once again Mis- Teeq won the girls trophy beating Amanda Holden’s squad along the way who had trained so hard for Soccer Six in London’s Hyde Park!
2003 saw the Soccer Six roadshow heading for St. James’ Park, Anfield and Upton Park, home of West Ham United giving us a chance to remember the tournaments East End roots.
The mighty Blue won at both Newcastle and Liverpool and So Solid Crew beat Westlife in the final at West Ham. This was another typical Soccer Six shock as Westlife had beaten Rod Stewarts finest in the semi final and were expected to be the next names on the trophy. But as they say football is a funny old game and the So Solid boys were ‘over the moon’
And so to 2004 and three more great venues for the stars to shine at. We kicked off proceedings at Everton’s Goodison Park where The Darkness managed by Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman beat Bryan McFaddens team in the final. We then moved next along to Elland Road home of Leeds United, where the squads battled it out before indie band The Music upset the crowd and the odds by defeating the pretty boys from HoIlyoaks on penalties to win the Soccer Six cup !
Finally, the Soccer Six roadshow rolled back to the South and Reading FC’s brand new super stadium the Madejski Stadium. Once again crowd figures and noise was high with help from the huge support from Radio One . Chris Moyles assembled a super team around the skills of Spoony, Colin Murray and Chappers but they were to be beaten 4-2 in their first group match ! They recovered to qualify where they overcame Starsailor in the semi finals to reach the final .
Everything was focused on the other semi with the big clash between ‘rivals’ Westlife fronted by Nicky Byrne against Bryan McFaddens team ! While Bryan eventually came out on top they were again undone against the impressive Radio One outfit in the final on penalties who were crowned Soccer Six Champions for the first time !
However Bryan was to return in 2005 with his new girlfriend Delta Goodrem cheering him on. Guesting in Rod Stewarts squad at the historic Villa Park stadium, home of Aston Villa FC. Bryan inspired mates including – Harvey, Danny Young, and Gordon Strachan to another final appearance.
The return at West Ham saw a jubilant Steve Harris take his Iron Maiden side all the way to the final to win the competition for the first time, and at the home of his beloved Hammers as well.
2006 was an exciting year for Soccer Six as the event was filmed as a TV show in its own right for the first time at Birmingham City FC. Made to coincide with the World Cup, Jimmy Carr’s North Korea team stole the show in the early stages despite losing all of their games. In the serious business of the finals, England, fronted by Lee Sharpe and Justin Hawkins and managed by Tony Christie, saw off all comers to make it into the final, but they didn’t bank on the might of the Italians as Kasabian, aided by Joe Calzaghe and managed by Aldo Zilli beat them in a narrow final. In the girls tournament Brazil beat England’s star-studded girls team of Nikki Sanderson, Rebecca Loos, Caprice, Liberty X, Michelle Duberry and their manager Rowetta.
A week later at West Ham and the sunshine of Birmingham was replaced by torrential downpour. Through the mud and soaked to the bone, the talented Hollyoaks team stormed through the competition to win the final for the first time.
2007 and back at West Ham for the twentieth Soccer Six event as a team many wrote off as underdogs made their Soccer Six debut and went all the way to the final to lift the trophy. Pete Doherty’s Babyshambles’ side weren’t the bookies favourites but their dedication and camaraderie paid off as they saw off competition from a big name team made up of Danny Dyer, Tamer Hasan, Nick Moran, Simon Jordan and Brian McFadden and a Reality TV side who didn’t manage to chalk up a point during the group stages. A minor hiccup for Doherty’s men, who were cheered on from the stands by Kate Moss, came in a grudge match with Johnny Borrell’s Razorlight that saw Babyshambles defeated but both sides qualify to the finals.
Not to be outdone by Babyshambles’ big name cheerleader Donny and Dirk Tourette had Peaches and Pixie Geldof cheering them on from the sidelines. It worked as they joined DJ Spoony’s team in the final with Simon Webbe going through as a best placed third.
Babyshambles path to the final came via the DJ’s who were beaten 2-0 in the quarterfinals and Godlie Lookin Chain who were edged out 2-1 in the semis. Their opponents were DJ Spoony’s side who had seen off Razorlight comfortably with a 3-0 win in the quarters and held their own in a penalty shootout with Simon Webbe’s side in the semi finals to make it through to the final.
The final was a tense affair with neither side looking to make any costly mistakes. It all looked like it was going to penalties before Frank McAvennie’s visionary pass found Pete Doherty free in front of goal and the Babyshambles frontman held his own to slot home the winner and clinch the trophy.
The following week the Soccer Six team ventured to Wrexham for the first Soccer Six in Wales. Alex P’s team of DJ’s saw off competition from Neville Southall, Ian Rush, Dirty Sanchez and Goldie Lookin Chain, all playing on their home turf, to clinch the trophy for the legendary DJ for the first time.
2008 came around and with the taste of victory still sweet Babyshambles returned to defend their crown at Millwall Football Club. Their route to the final was swift as they conquered over a host of big names including the Sun, Virgin Radio and the Automatic. Doherty’s opponents in the final were to be Faithless, who after seeing off competition from the Hoosiers and the Twang proved too strong in a final of real quality. Incensed by the defeat of her pals in the Babyshambles team Amy Winehouse, who had been cheering from the stands, stormed onto make her displeasure known, little could be done though as Faithless held the trophy aloft, bringing another historic Soccer Six to a close.
The following week we were in Reading where Gordon Smart’s Sun team blazed a blistering path to final at the expense of the Twang, and Omid Djalili’s All Star Comedy team that featured Lee Mack, Russell Howard and Noel Fielding. Gordon’s opponents were to be McFly’s talented team who saw off the Hoosiers to clinch their final spot. In a high scoring and entertaining final the Sun’s team came out on top and celebrations began almost as soon as the final whistle was blown with McFly’s Danny Jones vowing to exact revenge at a future Soccer Six.
2009 saw Soccer Six return to Chelsea Football Club after a 7 year hiatus and on the hottest day of the year so far. Tournament newcomers JLS were the fans favourites while the current number 1 artists NDUBZ also had a big following to cheer them on in their first Soccer Six tournament.
Neither team could do enough to progress to the finals though and it was Big Neville Southall again who rolled back the years to put in another tournament winning performance for his team. They’re defeated opponents in the final were an extremely talented Soccer AM side who just started to show signs of tiredness as they entered the all important final.
The View with Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan also took part and were formidable opponents with the day’s worst disciplinary record while the newly formed Britpop favourites Toploader struggled to make an impact.
In the ladies tournament Bianca Gascoigne, Michelle Heaton, Lois Winstone and NDUBZ’s Tulisa were all on hand to give a fine account of the girls.
After several attempts, in 2010 we finally made the dates work with Charlton Athletic and took the event to the Valley in South East London for the first time. It wasn’t only the venue making it’s Soccer Six debut with The Wanted, Kid British, Flawless, Stacey Solomon, Olly Murs and a team of champion snooker stars just a few who were taking part for the first time.
Back again to try their luck were NDUBZ, McFly, Soccer AM and Omid Djalili’s All Star team of comedians.
In the end it was the X Factor boys with Jeff Brazier, Danyl Johnstone, Jamie Archer and Blue’s Lee Ryan who triumphed over Gordon Smart’s Sun team featuring Tynchy Stryder and Lethal Bizzle. What made it sweeter for the X Factor boy’s was that they did it without player of the tournament Olly Murs – who had been signed up by the Sun instead!
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for NDUBZ as Tulisa led her side to victory in the girls tournament.
