The Legacy of Christmas Day Football in England
The presents have been unwrapped, the festive meal enjoyed, and now what comes next? Will you settle in front of the TV, take the dog for a walk, or perhaps venture out to catch your team in action on Christmas Day?
Up until 60 years ago, attending a football match on Christmas Day was a viable option, with Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers playing the final Football League game on December 25.
Since the second league season in 1889-90, Christmas Day had been a significant date on the football calendar. As one of the few public holidays, it presented teams with an opportunity to draw large crowds, aided by the availability of public transport.
“Christmas football was originally rooted in a broader tradition of communal entertainment,” stated Professor Martin Johnes from Swansea University, in an interview with BBC Sport. “While the Victorian middle class celebrated Christmas as a home-centered festival, for workers living in cramped conditions, getting out was often more essential. Football, pantomimes, informal gatherings, and community rituals provided avenues for socialization and enjoyment during their day off.”
The tradition began when Preston North End, the reigning league champions, hosted Aston Villa in 1889, winning 3-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Nick Ross, as the Lilywhites went on to retain their title.
Typically, teams would play the return match on Boxing Day to ensure equal travel distances, with the 1965 encounter between Blackpool and Blackburn being the third time they faced each other on Christmas Day, with the reverse fixture held the following afternoon on the previous two occasions.
As the league evolved, Christmas Day football gained popularity until 1957, which marked the last full fixture list on that date. “By the interwar period, there were observations that Christmas was becoming more private,” Professor Johnes noted. “This shift was evident in reduced transport services and cinema showings. Football persisted longer, partly because it provided men an escape from domestic life for a few hours. However, by the 1950s, Christmas Day games seemed out of sync with the broader festival — expectations for men to be at home increased, and homes had become more comfortable due to better furnishings, new housing, and more affordable fuel.”
Additionally, the advent of floodlights at many Football League clubs led to more midweek matches, reducing the necessity for packed football schedules during the festive period. In 1959, Coventry defeated Wrexham 5-3 in Division Three, while Blackburn triumphed over Blackpool 1-0 at Ewood Park in Division One. These were the last games played on December 25 until six years later, when the two Lancashire teams met for the final Christmas Day fixture.
“The decline of Christmas Day football was largely due to transport issues,” added Professor Johnes. “The diminishing demand for Christmas Day travel, as the holiday became more home-centered, coupled with transport workers’ desire for a day off, led to curtailed rail and bus services.”
Blackpool Triumphs, but Rovers Leave a Lasting Mark on Christmas Day
The two teams entered the match struggling at the lower end of Division One, with Blackburn positioned 20th, barely outside the relegation zone on goal difference, and Blackpool just one point and two places above them.
The home side had secured only one victory in their last eight league matches, while Blackburn had shown some improvement, winning two of their last three games before heading to Bloomfield Road.
The Tangerines featured future England World Cup winner Alan Ball, while Blackburn fielded Mike England, a Welsh international defender who would later make nearly 400 appearances for Tottenham and manage his national team for eight years.
A crowd of 20,851 witnessed Neil Turner give Blackpool an early lead, only for George Jones to equalize before halftime. The home team took charge in the second half, with goals from Bobby Waddell and top scorer Ray Charnley, followed by a fourth from Ball. England then etched his name into history by scoring Blackburn's second goal, marking the final goal ever scored in the Football League on Christmas Day.
The two teams were scheduled to play the return match at Ewood Park on Boxing Day, but it was postponed due to a frozen pitch. Blackpool ultimately managed to distance themselves from relegation, finishing in 13th place, while Rovers faced a disastrous second half of the season, winning only three of their remaining 20 matches, leading to their relegation to the second tier.
The 1965 match was the last instance of football being played on Christmas Day until 1983, when Brentford attempted to host a Third Division match against Wimbledon at 11 a.m. “I see it as a tremendous opportunity for families to enjoy a fresh-air Christmas morning,” remarked Brentford chairman Martin Lange at the time. However, supporters disagreed, and following complaints, the game was rescheduled to Christmas Eve, with promotion-bound Wimbledon winning 4-3.