Every December 26, football in England experiences one of its most emblematic days. This is of course, "Boxing Day," which transforms into a celebration where the Premier League and its lower divisions are obligated to hold matches due to a British footballing tradition. For the players, it may mean an extra day of work amidst the festivities, but for the fans, it’s a day of pure joy. Bouyed from Xmas, everyone wants a good "airing"!
Statistics show that stadiums reach nearly full capacity on Boxing Day, with an astounding 97 percent attendance. It’s an occasion where family and football unite; parents and children share the unique experience of watching a live game, creating a warm and festive atmosphere that contrasts with the winter chill.
The Football Association meticulously organizes the schedule to ensure that the matchups are between geographically close teams. This makes it easier for supporters to attend without transportation hassles, keeping attendance high and ensuring that the spirit of the tradition remains alive.
There are various theories regarding the origin of Boxing Day. One theory traces back to feudal times when nobles would hand their servants boxes filled with Christmas leftovers. Another version speaks of employees receiving monetary gifts in a box the day after Christmas.
Statistics show that football stadiums reach nearly full capacity on Boxing Day, with an astounding 97 percent attendance. It’s an occasion where family and football unite; parents and children share the unique experience of watching a live game, creating a warm and festive atmosphere that contrasts with the winter chill.
The link between football and Boxing Day has strengthened since that first match between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC in 1860, but the tradition officially began in professional football during the 1888-89 season with the inception of the Football League. Since then, it has been a marked day on the calendar of English football.
West Brom has played the most Boxing Day matches in league history, with 107 games played to a 46W-39L-22D record. Manchester United has gained the most points on Boxing Day, with 174 points gathered on a 52W-27L-18D record across 97 Boxing Day matches. Harry Kane holds the record for the most goals scored on Boxing Day with 10, while the highest-scoring Boxing Day fixture in Premier League history was Manchester City's 6-3 win over Leicester City in 2021. The highest-scoring Boxing Day in English top-flight history happened in 1963, when an outlandish 66 goals were scored across 10 matches, marked by a bonkers 10-1 win for Fulham over Ipswich Town and an 8-2 drubbing by Blackburn Rovers over West Ham.
However, not everything is festive for the players. Former referee Howard Webb revealed that some footballers, in an effort to avoid playing on Boxing Day, would commit fouls to receive bookings and and get to the "yellow card limit". This day entails sacrifice for athletes and coaches, who must balance physical rest with match planning, often rotating players to prevent injuries and keep the squad competitive amidst the festivities. This Boxing Day we met two Everton supporters on our beach walk in Victoria, Yes Australia.
Current Form
- 10
- Scored
- 2
- 7
- Yellow cards
- 14!!!!
- 0
- Red cards
- 0
Recent head to head
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