Five-a-side is now bigger, in men’s participation numbers at least, than traditional 11-a-side football in the UK.

We know this to be true. We can’t show you in-depth statistical data or seven-year studies to prove this, no-one can. You can take my word for it though, it’s true nonetheless.

We know it’s true because five-a-side fits perfectly with our modern lifestyle. It’s quick, exciting, snack-size football, served up on a week night somewhere in between seeing your Gran and going sofa shopping! (Maybe that’s just me!)

It gives you that awesome football fix when and how you need it and more than 500,000 of us, along with our mates, turn out every week to get our latest installment. 

We’re just the same here at Umbro. We love five-a-side for exactly the same reasons as you and three years ago we realised that the only thing five-a-side lacked was the ultimate dream! Something big. Something we could all aspire to and could take us from a dodgy astroturf in the wilderness all the way to Wembley’s pristine pitch.

We wanted to know who were the best fives teams and then play against them. And so, with a little help from our friends, we made it happen and The FA UMBRO Fives was born.

Since then, more than 4,000 teams have taken part in the ultimate five-a-side challenge and, of which, around a hundred of the best have lived out their dream under that massive arch.

We think we’ve done something pretty special for five-a-side football and made what was already pretty much 99% perfect just that little bit better.

We’ve started recruiting for the 2009 UMBRO Fives so visit www.thefa.com/umbrofives to find your local heats (they’re happening pretty much everywhere in England) and make your own stories for the grandkids!