The importance of boxing day football

While everybody celebrates Christmas slightly differently, there are some traditions that are universal. Christmas dinner is an obvious one, as are stocking, carols and Father Christmas.

But in the world of sport, perhaps the most important Christmas tradition is Boxing Day football. Whether you’re braving the cold to head down and watch your favourite team or putting on your brand-new Christmas pyjamas ahead of a day in front of the TV, Boxing Day football is one thing that everybody looks forward to throughout the festive period.

But why is it so important? And when did it start? Let’s find out!

The history of Boxing Day football

Way back in 1888, in the first season of the football league, there were two games on Boxing Day, as Derby County played Bolton Wanderers while West Brom faced Preston North End. This sparked the beginning of a tradition, with games now played the day after Christmas every year.

However, it wasn’t just Boxing Day that saw football fans head out to watch a game. Back in the day, there were also games on Christmas Day. In fact, often teams would face each other on Christmas Day, before meeting again for the return fixture a day later. The idea was that crowds would be at their biggest, with the majority of people in the country off work for the two bank holidays.

With the arguments about fixture congestion and player welfare, that seems unthinkable today, but the rules were different back then. Back then, bank holidays were typically an opportunity for friends and family to meet up outside of their home and spend the day together, meaning football was the perfect opportunity to celebrate.

However, at some point during the 1960s, traditions changed and it became the norm to spend Christmas at home with your family. As a result, Christmas Day attendances began to suffer and those in charge felt a change was needed. The last Christmas Day game in England was way back in 1965 but Boxing Day games have remained.

Typically, to make it easier for fans and players travelling, teams will play against sides relatively close to them, although this isn’t always possible. Almost all professional football teams in England will play on Boxing Day this year, except for a few exceptions where matches may have been moved by a day or two for TV.

Festive games are a very British tradition, with many countries across Europe opting to have a two-week winter break over Christmas. But the fixture schedule in the UK thrives at the end of the year, with games almost every day until New Year’s Day.

Memorable Boxing Day moments

For those that are active on social media, you may be well aware of the Boxing Day results from 1963. While many of us may not have been born to witness it, you’d have done well to miss the screenshot that goes viral each year.

The 10 top-flight games that day produced a phenomenal 66 goals. Standout results include Burnley 6-1 Manchester United, Fulham 10-1 Ipswich and West Ham 2-8 Blackburn Rovers. Whether the players were hungover from Christmas or still stuffed from their turkey, we’re not sure, but we’re sure the fans weren’t complaining. Well, maybe the Ipswich fans were.

In recent times, there have also been some incredible Boxing Day matches in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson’s final Boxing Day game back in 2012 saw Javier Hernandez score a dramatic last-minute winner as Manchester United came from behind three times to beat Newcastle 4-3.

Five years previously, Chelsea and Aston Villa shared the spoils in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, one of the Premier League’s most iconic moments also took place on Boxing Day. With Hull 4-0 down at half-time to Manchester City in 2008, manager Phil Brown famously forced his players to stay out on the pitch at the break and delivered his half-time team talk in the cold in front of the fans.

Boxing Day comebacks have become a tradition for United, as they fought back from two goals down last year to beat Aston Villa 3-2 thanks to a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a late winner from Rasmus Hojlund. Meanwhile, goals from Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota gave Liverpool a 2-0 win at Burnley, who were eventually relegated.

Premier League festive fixtures

Thursday 26th December

Manchester City v Everton
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace
Chelsea v Fulham
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest v Tottenham
Southampton v West Ham
Wolves v Manchester United
Liverpool v Leicester

Friday 27th December

Brighton v Brentford
Arsenal v Ipswich

Sunday 29th December

Leicester v Manchester City
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Everton v Nottingham Forest
Fulham v Bournemouth
Tottenham v Wolves
West Ham v Liverpool

Monday 30th December

Aston Villa v Brighton
Ipswich v Chelsea
Manchester United v Newcastle

Wednesday 1st January

Brentford v Arsenal

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