""Christmas football was originally rooted in a wider tradition of communal entertainments," Professor Martin Johnes of Swansea University told BBC Sport. "While for the Victorian middle class Christmas was a festival of the home, for the workers, who lived in cramped, overcrowded housing, getting out was often more important. "Football, pantomimes, informal gatherings, community rituals and traditions all provided people with opportunities to socialise and enjoy the day off work.""
"Preston North End started the tradition as the reigning league champions hosted Aston Villa in 1889, winning 3-2 thanks to a Nick Ross hat-trick as the Lilywhites went on to retain their title. Teams would normally play the return game on Boxing Day to ensure sides travelled similar distances - indeed the 1965 meeting between Blackpool and Blackburn was the third time they had played on Christmas Day, with the reverse fixture on the previous two occasions played the following afternoon."
Christmas Day fixtures formed a major Football League tradition from 1889-90, offering workers a public leisure opportunity aided by public transport. Matches attracted large crowds and grew in popularity as a communal entertainment alongside pantomimes and gatherings. Preston North End hosted Aston Villa in 1889, and teams typically played return fixtures on Boxing Day to balance travel. The practice persisted into the mid-20th century but declined as Christmas became more private, transport and public entertainments reduced, and the last full fixture list took place in 1957, with the final 25 December league match held decades later.
Read at www.bbc.com
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