The Boys’ Brigade runs National Competitions on an annual basis involving companies across the regions.
For 2023-24 session we are pleased to be running the following competitions . . .
- Badminton
- Chess
- Fifa
- Five a Side football (Senior)
- Five a Side football (Company)
- Masterteam (Quiz)
- Table Tennis
Each competition initially operates more locally and on a regional basis (as this keeps the travelling down). When the regional rounds have been completed, they will give rise to the top teams coming together for the National Final.
National Competitions are a great way for young people to take part in activities that take them beyond their own Company, meeting and interacting with BB members from across the UK & RoI. The competitions are for the Company and Seniors groups.
Taking part in 2023-24 . . .
Over 140 Companies across UK are taking part in our National Competitions this session.
Find out more about each competition below:
Masterteam (Quiz)
Masterteam is a quiz based competition, with teams taking on others, with multiple question rounds.
Based on a team of 4 (plus 1 reserve player permitted)
To help show what the Masterteam competition looks like, here are the round 1 QUESTIONS (PPT) & PDF and ANSWERS from the 2023/24 competition.
Masterteam will also be run as a hybrid competition with options to take place face-to-face or virtually (first two rounds only). Teams will participate in a round with multiple other Companies. Companies hosting will need to provide the venue. Question Masters will be organised centrally where possible and they will be put in touch with the host Company.
There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final.
Masterteam dates for this session are set, so teams entering should ensure availability on the dates below:
Round 1 – 11th November 2023
Round 2 – 9th December 2023
Round 3 – 3rd February 2023
National Final – Saturday 16th March 2024 (hosted in England)
Please note in some Regions not all three rounds will take place, full details will be circulated to participating teams when rounds are drawn.
Football (Company)
Based on Company age group all players MUST be under 15 years as at 31st August 2024.
Team based on 5 from a squad of 8 players. The competition is based on a league, based on the number of teams drawn in the respective round. There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final to be hosted in Scotland on 20th April 2024.
In Scotland & Northern Ireland, the tournament will be co-ordinated by a team of volunteers who will complete the draw and support Companies in hosting. Those companies hosting will need to organise hiring an appropriate indoor football venue for the round to take place as well as organising an official to referee. The cost of hire would usually be split between all Companies taking part in the round. Dates for rounds will be set by the host Company once the draws for the competitions are announced.
In England & Wales the tournament will take place on set dates (given below). The northern / southern divide will depend on the number of teams entering. The cost of venue hire for each round will be split between the Companies participating and will need to be paid before the date of the competition.
- Round 1 (North & South England Locations): 18th November & 25th November 2023
- Round 2 (England Regional Final): 27th January 2024 (Northampton)
Football (Senior)
Based on Seniors age group all players MUST be 15 to 18 years as at 31st August 2024.
Team based on 5 from a squad of 8 players. The competition is based on a league, based on the number of teams drawn in the respective round. There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final to be hosted in Scotland on 20th April 2024.
In Scotland & Northern Ireland, the tournament will be co-ordinated by a team of volunteers who will complete the draw and support Companies in hosting. Those companies hosting will need to organise hiring an appropriate indoor football venue for the round to take place as well as organising an official to referee. The cost of hire would usually be split between all Companies taking part in the round. Dates for rounds will be set by the host Company once the draws for the competitions are announced.
In England & Wales the tournament will take place on set dates (given below). The northern / southern divide will depend on the number of teams entering, but should roughly be around the Northampton / Milton Keynes area.
- Round 1 (North / South England Locations): 4th November 2023
- Round 2 (England Regional Final): 27th January 2024
Badminton
Based on team of 4 (plus 1 reserve player permitted).
This is a face-to-face competition, with teams of 4 taking on a team of 4 from another BB Company. Players will play as pairs (so two pairs per team), each pair playing each of the opposing pairs, as part of a match in each round. The team winning the majority of matches going through to the next round.
Companies hosting will need to provide a badminton court, where this is not possible at your own meeting space, the cost of this is usually absorbed by the host Company. Where possible the host Company should provide appropriate referees, although through consultation with opponents refereeing may be shared between the participating Companies.
There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final to be hosted in Northern Ireland on 23rd March 2024. Dates for rounds will be set by the host Company once the draws for the competitions are announced.
Table Tennis
Based on team of 3 (plus 1 reserve player permitted).
This is a face-to-face competition, with teams of 3 taking on a team of 3 from another BB Company. Players will play each member of the opposing team in each round, with the team, with the team winning the majority of matches going through to the next round.
Companies hosting will need to provide at least one table tennis table, but ideally two tables will mean that the match (round) can be played in a timely manner. It is usually expected that Companies would host at their own premises. Where possible the host Company should provide appropriate referees, although through consultation with opponents refereeing may be shared between the participating Companies.
There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final to be hosted in England on 16th March 2024. Dates for rounds will be set by the host Company once the draws for the competitions are announced.
Please note the national final of Chess & Table Tennis will take place at the same time. Please consider this when choosing your teams & competitions for the 2023/24 session.
Fifa
Based on a team of 3 (plus 1 reserve player permitted).
This is a face-to-face competition, with teams of 3 taking on a team of 3 from another BB Company. Players will play each member of the opposing team in each round, with the team winning the majority of matches going through to the next round. Companies hosting will need to provide at least one console (Playstation or Xbox), but ideally two consoles. The consoles and versions of the game should remain consistent for each match (round), but may change between rounds based on the console available.
There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final to be hosted in Northern Ireland on 23rd March 2024. Dates for rounds will be set by the host Company once the draws for the competitions are announced.
Chess
Based on a team of 3 (plus 1 reserve player permitted).
This is a face-to-face competition, with teams of 3 taking on a team of 3 from another BB Company. Players will play each member of the opposing team in each round, with the team winning the majority of matches going through to the next round.
Companies hosting will need to provide chess boards for the competition. Ideally there should be three chess boards available, to ensure the competition can take place in a timely manner. It is usually expected that Companies would host at their own premises. Where possible the host Company should provide appropriate referees, although through consultation with opponents refereeing may be shared between the participating Companies.
There will be two to three rounds (this may differ between regions), with the last round being the Regional Final. The top two teams from each region will progress to the National Final to be hosted in England on 16th March 2024. Dates for rounds will be set by the host Company once the draws for the competitions are announced.
Please note: The national final of Chess & Table Tennis will take place at the same time. Please consider this when choosing your teams & competitions for the 2023/24 session.
Remember you only need a small number of young people to be able to enter, so the competitions are accessible to all Companies. You can also join up with another Company if that means you can enter a team, so why not speak to a neighbouring Company about a joint entry. Could your young people be in the finals of one of the national competitions this session?
Competition Entry
Entries for 2023-24 National Competitions are now closed. We are pleased to announce that more than 140 Companies have entered this sessions competitions, the highest number in recent years. It is great to welcome back Companies that were involved last year, but also a number of Companies that have not taken part in recent years.
Details of all draws will be available on our 2023-24 Competition page from Friday 6th October 2023.
If you have any questions about this session’s competitions please contact us at programme@boys-brigade.org.uk
Competitions Progress
Once the competitions have been drawn, you will be able to find out more about the progress with this session’s competitions on our 2023-24 Competitions page.
Competition Rules & Information
The Competition Rules clearly set out how the games are to be played and the co-operation of Companies is essential to generating a competitive, but friendly environment.
Please remember that teams in all competitions must consist of current registered members of The Boys’ Brigade or The Northern Ireland Boys’ Brigade. Failure to ensure this will mean disqualification from this event. Furthermore, all Companies that take part must have completed and submitted their statistical returns in order to play.
The competition rules are available on HERE
Results – Hall of Fame
Check out the previous winners of each competition below.
Please note the 2019-20 competitions were not finalised due to the Covid-19 pandemic so there are no results for that session. The competitions were also not run in the 2020-21 or 2021-22 sessions.
Masterteam (Quiz)
2022-23 – 13th Motherwell (Scotland)
2021-22 – Not held
2020-21 – Not held
2019-20 – Not completed
2018-19 – 4th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2017-18 – 1st Bearsden (Scotland)
2016-17 – 1st Bearsden (Scotland)
2015-16 – 25th Stirling (Scotland)
2014-15 – 100th Belfast (Northern Ireland)
2013-14 – 65th Edinburgh (Scotland)
2012-13 – 16th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2011-12 – 4th/5th Kilmarnock (Scotland)
2010-11 – 2nd Bracknell (England)
2009-10 – 1st Cullybackey (Northern Ireland)
2008-09 – 2nd Forfar (Scotland)
2007-08 – 1st Ballyclare (Northern Ireland)
2006-07 – 7th East Kilbride (Scotland)
2005-06 – 7th East Kilbride (Scotland)
2004-05 – 26th Stirling (Scotland)
2003-04 – 14th West Bromwich (England)
2002-03 – 3rd Gourock (Scotland)
2001-02 – 3rd Gourock (Scotland)
2000-01 – 4th/5th Kilmarnock (Scotland)
1999-2000 – 4th/5th Kilmarnock (Scotland)
1998-99 – 2nd Dublin (Republic of Ireland)
1997-98 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1996-97 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1995-96 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1994-95 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1993-94 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1992-93 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1991-92 – 1st Kilsyth (Scotland)
Note: Masterteam was known as Top of Form prior to 1991-92.
1990-91 – 1st Cramlington (England)
1989-90 – 16th Perth (Scotland)
1988-89 – 3rd Perth (Scotland)
1987-88 – Not held
1986-87 – 1st Whitehead (Northern Ireland)
1985-86 – 100th Belfast (Northern Ireland)
1984-85 – 1st Sandown & Lake (England)
1983-84 – 1st Whitehead (Northern Ireland)
1982-83 – 3rd Ballymena (Northern Ireland)
1981-82 – 5th Dublin (Republic of Ireland)
1980-81 – 2nd North West Durham (England)
1979-80 – 1st Dalry (Scotland)
1978-79 – 101st Glasgow (Scotland)
1977-78 – 3rd Maidstone (England)
1976-77 – 11th Northampton (England)
1975-76 – 11th Northampton (England)
1974-75 – 11th Northampton (England)
Football (Company)
2022-23 – 4th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2021-22 – Not held
2020-21 – Not held
2019-20 – Not completed
2018-19 – 7th Wishaw (Scotland)
2017-18 – 1st Moneymore (Northern Ireland)
2016-17 – 1st Kilkeel (Northern Ireland)
2015-16 – 1st Greenisland (Northern Ireland)
2014-15 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2013-14 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2012-13 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2011-12 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2010-11 – 1st Ardstraw (Northern Ireland)
2009-10 – 1st Greenock (Scotland)
2008-09 – 11th Warrington (England)
2007-08 – 1st Mountjoy (Northern Ireland)
2006-07 – 6th/8th Dundee (Scotland)
2005-06 – 1st Westgate-on-Sea (England)
2004-05 – 4th Kirkcaldy (Scotland)
2003-04 – 11th Warrington (England)
2002-03 – 70th London (England)
Note: Football was run as a combined Company and Seniors competition prior to 2002-03. For older results see Football (Senior).
Football (Senior)
2022-23 – 7th Londonderry (Northern Ireland)
2021-22 – Not held
2020-21 – Not held
2019-20 – Not completed
2018-19 – 1st Moneymore (Northern Ireland)
2017-18 – 15th South Shields (England)
2016-17 – 15th South Shields (England)
2015-16 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2014-15 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2013-14 – 16th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2012-13 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2011-12 – 42nd Dundee (Scotland)
2010-11 – 2nd Castlederg (Northern Ireland)
2009-10 – Not held
2008-09 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2007-08 – 2nd Gourock (Scotland)
2006-07 – 3rd Gourock (Scotland)
2005-06 – 8th Leicester (England)
2004-05 – 55th Manchester (England)
2003-04 – 55th Manchester (England)
2002-03 – 1st Cookstown (Northern Ireland)
Note: Football was run as a combined Company and Seniors competition prior to 2002-03.
2001-02 – 11th Warrington (England)
2000-01 – 70th London (England)
1999-2000 – 3rd Airdrie (Scotland)
1998-99 – 3rd Airdrie (Scotland)
1997-98 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1996-97 – 70th London (England)
1995-96 – 4th Portadown (Northern Ireland)
1994-95 – 2nd Cambusnethan (Scotland)
1993-94 – 7th Wishaw (Scotland)
1992-93 – 70th London (England)
1991-92 – 8th Falkirk (Scotland)
1990-91 – 1st Muirkirk (Scotland)
1989-90 – 1st Greenock (Scotland)
1988-89 – 1st Portglenone (Northern Ireland)
1987-88 – 6th East Kilbride (Scotland)
1986-87 – 2nd Falkirk (Scotland)
1985-86 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1984-85 – 8th Airdrie (Scotland)
1983-84 – 1st Kilbirnie (Scotland)
1982-83 – 10th Inverness (Scotland)
1981-82 – 3rd Gateshead (England)
1980-81 – 8th Motherwell (Scotland)
1979-80 – 1st Methil (Scotland)
1978-79 – 41st Manchester (England)
1977-78 – 5th St Helens (England)
1976-77 – 107th Glasgow (Scotland)
1975-76 – 7th Perth (Scotland)
1974-75 – 42nd Dundee (Scotland)
Badminton
2022-23 – 4th/5th Kilmarnock (Scotland)
2021-22 – Not held
2020-21 – Not held
2019-20 – Not completed
2018-19 – 4th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2017-18 – 1st Houston (Scotland)
2016-17 – 65th Edinburgh (Scotland)
2015-16 – 65th Edinburgh (Scotland)
2014-15 – 65th Edinburgh (Scotland)
2013-14 – 1st Garvagh (Northern Ireland)
2012-13 – 1st Garvagh (Northern Ireland)
2011-12 – 1st Largs (Scotland)
2010-11 – 1st Letterkenny (Northern Ireland)
2009-10 – 1st Polmont (Scotland)
2008-09 – 1st Polmont (Scotland)
2007-08 – 7th Wishaw (Scotland)
2006-07 – 5th Coleraine (Northern Ireland)
2005-06 – 4th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2004-05 – 1st Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)
2003-04 – 205th Glasgow (Scotland)
2002-03 – 205th Glasgow (Scotland)
2001-02 – 4th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
2000-01 – 1st Greenock (Scotland)
1999-2000 – 4th Newtownabbey (Northern Ireland)
1998-99 – 1st Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)
1997-98 – 7th East Kilbride (Scotland)
1996-97 – 1st Hillsborough (Northern Ireland)
1995-96 – 7th East Kilbride (Scotland)
1994-95 – 2nd Polmont (Scotland)
1993-94 – 2nd Polmont (Scotland)
1992-93 – 2nd Polmont (Scotland)
Table Tennis
2022-23 – 2nd Port Glasgow (Scotland)
2021-22 – Not held
2020-21 – Not held
2019-20 – Not completed
2018-19 – 44th Glasgow (Scotland)
2017-18 – 1st Monifieth (Scotland)
2016-17 – 14th North West Durham (England)
2015-16 – 1st Kempston (England)
2014-15 – 1st Grangemouth (Scotland)
2013-14 – 4th Southampton (England)
2012-13 – 4th Southampton (England)
2011-12 – 44th Glasgow (Scotland)
2010-11 – 44th Glasgow (Scotland)
2009-10 – 1st Grangemouth (Scotland)
2008-09 – Not held
2007-08 – 44th Glasgow (Scotland)
2006-07 – 4th Sutton (England)
2005-06 – 4th Sutton (England)
2004-05 – 44th Glasgow (Scotland)
2003-04 – 2nd Sutton in Ashfield (England)
2002-03 – 2nd Sutton in Ashfield (England)
2001-02 – 1st Grangemouth (Scotland)
2000-01 – 1st Sandown & Lake (England)
1999-2000 – 1st Sandown & Lake (England)
1998-99 – 10th Bangor (Northern Ireland)
1997-98 – 10th Bangor (Northern Ireland)
1996-97 – 1st Gillingham (England)
1995-96 – 10th Bangor (Northern Ireland)
1994-95 – 2nd Ballyclare (Northern Ireland)
1993-94 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1992-93 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1991-92 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1990-91 – 1st Duntocher (Scotland)
1989-90 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1988-89 – 1st Clwyd (Wales)
1987-88 – 12th Edinburgh (Scotland)
1986-87 – 1st Hartlepool (England)
1985-86 – 1st Hartlepool (England)
1984-85 – 8th Hartlepool (England)
1983-84 – 12th Perth (Scotland)
1982-83 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1981-82 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1980-81 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1979-80 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1978-79 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1977-78 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1976-77 – 7th Hartlepool (England)
1975-76 – 3rd Huddersfield (England)
1974-75 – 2nd Hamilton (Scotland)
Fifa
2022-23 – 4th/5th Kilmarnock (Scotland)
Chess
2022-23 – Not held
2021-22 – Not held
2020-21 – Not held
2019-20 – Not completed
2018-19 – 1st Crowborough (England)
2017-18 – 1st Cheslyn Hay (England)
2016-17 – 1st Bearsden (Scotland)
2015-16 – 2nd Bedford (England)
2014-15 – 1st Glenwherry (Northern Ireland)
2013-14 – 1st Cheam (England)
2012-13 – 1st Cheam (England)
2011-12 – 1st Cheam (England)
2010-11 – 1st Knocknamuckley (Northern Ireland)
2009-10 – 7th Edinburgh (Scotland)
2008-09 – 1st Newtonhill (Scotland)
2007-08 – 1st Newtonhill (Scotland)
2006-07 – 1st Newtonhill (Scotland)
2005-06 – 1st Newtonhill (Scotland)
2004-05 – 1st/2nd Dreghorn (Scotland)
2003-04 – 7th Edinburgh (Scotland)
2002-03 – 1st Newtonhill (Scotland)
2001-02 – 1st Maidstone (England)
2000-01 – 1st Maidstone (England)
1999-2000 – 17th Teesside (England)
1998-99 – 1st Maidstone (England)
1997-98 – 49th Birmingham (England)
1996-97 – 5th Livingston (Scotland)
1995-96 – 1st Maidstone (England)
1994-95 – 1st Maidstone (England)
1993-94 – 1st Maidstone (England)
1992-93 – 21st Ipswich (England)
1991-92 – 5th Livingston (Scotland)
1990-91 – 5th Livingston (Scotland)
1989-90 – 1st Colchester (England)
1988-89 – 1st Colchester (England)
1987-88 – 1st Houston (Scotland)
1986-87 – 1st Hythe (England)
1985-86 – 3rd Bangor (Northern Ireland)
1984-85 – 2nd Bedford (England)
1983-84 – 2nd Bedford (England)
1982-83 – 4th Norwich (England)
1981-82 – 4th Norwich (England)
1980-81 – 18th Leith (Scotland)
1979-80 – 18th Leith (Scotland)
1978-79 – 18th Leith (Scotland)
1977-78 – 18th Leith (Scotland)
1976-77 – 2nd Romford (England)
1975-76 – 35th Dundee (Scotland)
1974-75 – 1st Elderslie (Scotland)