The Tradition of Christmas Day Football: A Historical Perspective

In 1965, future World Cup winner Alan Ball made headlines by scoring for Blackpool on Christmas Day.

Following the opening of presents and enjoying a festive meal, many might consider settling down for a nap or taking the dog for a walk. However, up until 60 years ago, fans had the option to watch their favorite teams play on Christmas Day.

The final Football League match held on December 25 featured Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers. Christmas Day had been a staple in the football calendar since the league’s inception in the 1889-90 season. As one of the few public holidays, it provided teams with an opportunity to draw large crowds, a prospect aided by public transport availability.

“Christmas football was originally rooted in a wider tradition of communal entertainment,” explained Professor Martin Johnes from Swansea University in an interview with BBC Sport.

“For the Victorian middle class, Christmas was a home-centered festival, but for the working class, who often lived in cramped conditions, getting out was crucial. Football, along with pantomimes and community gatherings, offered a way for people to socialize and enjoy their day off.”

The tradition began with Preston North End, who, as reigning league champions, hosted Aston Villa in 1889, securing a 3-2 victory with a hat trick from Nick Ross. Typically, the return match would take place on Boxing Day to ensure travel distances remained consistent. Notably, the 1965 Christmas Day match between Blackpool and Blackburn marked the third occasion of their festive encounter, with both previous matches followed by a fixture the next day.

As the years went on, Christmas Day football gained popularity until 1957, which marked the last full fixture list on this date.

“By the interwar period, there was a noticeable shift towards a more private celebration of Christmas,” noted Professor Johnes.

“This change was reflected in reduced transport services and cinema listings. Football persisted longer as a social escape, particularly for men. However, by the 1950s, the idea of playing on Christmas Day felt increasingly incongruent with the holiday’s evolving nature. Expectations for men at home grew, homes became cozier due to improved furnishings and housing conditions, and with television providing more entertainment, the desire to escape for a few hours lessened. Consequently, football attendance started to decline during this decade.”

The introduction of floodlights at many Football League clubs also facilitated midweek games, reducing the need to fill the festive calendar with holiday matches.

In 1959, Coventry defeated Wrexham 5-3 in Division Three, while Blackburn triumphed over Blackpool 1-0 in Division One, marking the final Christmas Day matches until six years later when the two Lancashire clubs met again.

“The decline of Christmas Day football was significantly influenced by transportation issues,” added Professor Johnes.

“As the holiday became more home-centric, demand for Christmas Day travel diminished, and transport workers sought the day off, leading to curtailed rail and bus services.”

During the last Christmas Day match, Blackburn’s Mike England scored the final goal, marking an end to the tradition. Both teams were struggling near the bottom of Division One, with Blackburn in 20th place and Blackpool just above them.

With a crowd of 20,851 in attendance, Neil Turner opened scoring for Blackpool, only for George Jones to equalize before halftime. Blackpool gained control in the second half with goals from Bobby Waddell, top scorer Ray Charnley, and Alan Ball, before England scored Blackburn’s second and final goal of the day.

Although the return fixture was scheduled for Boxing Day, it was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Blackpool eventually secured a mid-table finish, while Blackburn’s poor form in the new year led to relegation.

That match in 1965 was the last Christmas Day football fixture until 1983, when Brentford attempted to host a match against Wimbledon at 11 am on the holiday.

Brentford chairman Martin Lange described it as “a tremendous opportunity for the family to enjoy a fresh-air Christmas morning.” However, widespread dissatisfaction from supporters led to the game being moved to Christmas Eve, with Wimbledon defeating Brentford 4-3.