The Tradition of English Football on Boxing Day

Many European soccer leagues have a Christmas break but the festive period is always a busy one in English football. As well as the normal scheduled matches, there are also extra games to accommodate into the fixture list. After everyone has enjoyed the festivities on Christmas Day then it is time for some top class football entertainment just twenty four hours later on the following day.

December 26th is well known as the day after Christmas yet sees a full programme of matches in the English football leagues. The tradition of English football on Boxing Day goes back many years. This day is a public holiday and has long been associated with a variety of sports. Boxing Day gets its name from an old custom where the rich gave boxes of gifts to the poor. While some people hit the shops in search of bargains, the die hard football supporter wants to escape the festive celebrations and go to the match instead.

When the fixtures are first released in the summer you can guarantee the Boxing Day game and the opposition concerned is one of the first dates a supporter will be interested in. There have been many famous games played on Boxing Day including numerous local derby matches that have been very bad tempered and short of goodwill to all men. It is one of the few occasions in the season when all of the big name teams play on the same day.

Boxing Day usually marks the halfway point in the league season where clubs can gauge just how well or not their season is progressing. One of the most productive rounds of Boxing Day matches was in 1963 when a total of 66 goals were scored in the top division of English football. Among the results that day was Burnley winning 6-1 against local rivals Manchester United, Fulham beating Ipswich Town 10-1 and Blackburn Rovers winning away at West Ham United by a 2-8 score line.

There have been calls for English football to follow the example of other leagues in Europe and implement a Christmas break. This would do away with the tradition of English football on Boxing Day. This change would not be welcomed by the vast majority of football fans. Going to the match on Boxing Day or even watching a game on television is a huge part of the English football culture. It remains a very special day on the football calendar and allows supporters some temporary respite from the Christmas celebrations.

The author contributes to the English Football Blog website. This is a popular Football News Blog that provides soccer news and comment. It covers the premiership and English football in general. He also contributes to the Soccer Wealth website. This is a Soccer Betting Predictions service that offers profitable football betting predictions, tips and advice. Information is provided on domestic, European and international matches.

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