Glasgow To Stage Second Star Sixes
Pitch International is to take its Star Sixes international ‘legends’ event to Glasgow in 2019.
The second edition of the tournament, which sees former football stars don national colours to revisit old rivalries in a six-a-side format, will take place at The SSE Hydro between January 4th and 6th, 2019.
Hosts Scotland will be joined by teams from England, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Wales and the Rest of the World in what will be the first regional edition of the event, which made its debut with the Star Sixes World Cup at The O2 in London in July 2017.
The Glasgow event will be presented by Pitch International, in partnership with Football Champions Tour, a leading sports management agency.
It will feature players including former Rangers midfield general Barry Ferguson, who will captain the Scottish team, with France World Cup winner Robert Pires leading the Rest of the World side, and Michael Owen also among the stars of Englad’s ten-man squad.
Every Star Sixes player will be a former international, with more names set to be announced in the coming weeks.
The Star Sixes format sees all six teams play each other once in a mini-league, with the top two teams qualifying for the Star Sixes Final, preceded by third- and fifth-placed play-offs.
The tournament adheres as closely as possible to the rules of to 11-a-side football, with kick-ins replacing throw-ins. Each match is 25 minutes long, with both teams able to call a 90-second timeout.
Organisers are promising a “spectacular” show in Glasgow, with family entertainment to be built around the on-field action.
Neil Bailey, Stars Sixes CEO, commented: “The inaugural Star Sixes World Cup produced some absolutely thrilling six-a-side action and unforgettable goals and we’re delighted to be bringing the first regional edition of the tournament to Glasgow.
“Grouping the Home Nations with the Republic of Ireland and a star-studded Rest of the World team promises to deliver some truly exhilarating matches.
“The passion of Scotland supporters is renowned worldwide and I’ve no doubt they will create an incredible atmosphere inside the SSE Hydro, which is the perfect venue for Star Sixes.”
Arsenal legend Pires will be aiming to reclaim the Star Sixes trophy, having captained France to victory at the Star Sixes World Cup in London.
He said: “Lifting the Star Sixes trophy after renewing old rivalries with some of the biggest names to have played the game was an incredibly proud moment for me and my French team-mates.
“French teams are making a habit of winning world titles!
“I’ll be calling on some of the stars of the last Star Sixes to line-up in my Rest of the World squad. I’m heading to Glasgow with a clear goal – to make it two in two!”
A ticketing campaign for the tournament will get underway this week.
