BOXING Day football is the highlight of most football fans’ Christmas – something to look forward to after gorging on turkey the day before.
But the traditional day of fixtures has an interesting history, and a a meticulous amount of planning is needed to make sure fans do not have to travel too far.
Here is SunSport’s lowdown on the day, plus see how far your side – or your opponents – have to travel.
What is the history of Boxing Day?
Boxing Day on December 26 is a holiday celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries, having been established by Queen Victoria in the 19th century.
Boxing Day is so called because it was the custom on that day for tradesmen to collect their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for good and reliable service throughout the year.
It is also called St. Stephen’s Day, which is it referred more in places such as Ireland.
What is the history of football on Boxing Day?
We have two non-league clubs Sheffield FC and Hallam FC to thank, as the world’s oldest and second oldest clubs played the first ever inter-club match on that day.
That tradition was built upon by the Football League’s inaugural 22-game season in 1888-89 when Preston North End defeated Derby County 5-0 on St. Stephen’s Day – and it has flourished ever since.
Christmas Day is a football-free zone, with supporters sitting indoors to endure the Queen’s speech, cracker jokes, and kisses from elderly relatives.
But this wasn’t always the case, as up until the 1950s, football was traditionally also played on Christmas Day.
There would be a full programme of fixtures on Christmas Day as in the days before TV, people donned hats and gloves to go to football after eating, rather than sitting around to watch Die Hard.
Usually there was another round of games the very next day (incredible given how modern managers moan about winter congestion).
But throughout the 1950s, attitudes changed towards playing sport on Christmas Day.
Transport systems declined, so crowds started to dwindle and the fixture eventually disappeared from the football calendar – the final December 25th programme of games in England was in the 1957/58 season, leaving Boxing Day to rule supreme.
How are Boxing Day fixtures determined?
Fixtures chiefs try to keep it as local as possible as it is a time when family and friends come together to go to matches – and attendances are therefore at their highest.
Big local derbies don’t tend to be scheduled on Boxing Day, as they already have high attendances anyway – and also during the season of goodwill, they probably don’t want local rivals smashing up the city centre.
Of course, it is not possible due to the location of all 92 clubs to have every match local – but as you will see from the list below, most clubs come out alright.
And every club, if they’re not home at Boxing Day, will be home on New Years Day so they can maximise on the Christmas period when attendances are higher.
Which Premier League fans have to travel the furthest on Boxing Day 2016?
Poor West Ham fans. They have to make the longest journey on Boxing Day, a 231 mile hike to Swansea City. That journey is in fact the longest in the entire Premier League and Football League that day.
The shortest trip has been given to Crystal Palace fans, who just have to hop from south London to north London to play Watford.
And bear in mind that the distances below are one way, as the crow flies. So away fans will have to make this a round trip.
- Swansea City vs West Ham United: 231 miles
- Manchester United vs Sunderland: 145 miles
- Leicester City vs Everton: 123 miles
- Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion: 121miles
- Chelsea vs Bournemouth: 103 miles
- Hull City vs Manchester City: 95 miles
- Burnley vs Middlesbrough: 89 miles
- Watford vs Crystal Palace: 51 miles
Liverpool vs Stoke City on December 27: 58 miles
Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur on December 28: 93 miles
Which EFL fans have to travel the furthest on Boxing Day 2016?
Pity Plymouth Argyle, the most westerly team in professional football, who have to travel 222 miles to face Wycombe Wanderers.
While the shortest trip is just 33 miles for Burton Albion fans who go to Aston Villa, and Cambridge who also go 33 miles to Stevenage.
- Plymouth Argyle vs Wycombe Wanderers: 222 miles
- Reading vs Norwich City: 165 miles
- Mansfield Town vs Morecambe: 146 miles
- Brentford vs Cardiff City: 145 miles
- Crewe Alexandra vs Carlisle United: 143 miles
- Hartlepool United vs Blackpool: 139 miles
- Newport County vs Portsmouth: 138 miles
- Grimsby Town vs Accrington Stanley: 128 miles
- Newcastle United vs Sheffield Wednesday: 127 miles
- Peterborough United vs Gillingham: 112 miles
- Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Bristol City: 109 miles
- Bristol Rovers vs Coventry City: 107 miles
- Bolton Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town: 95 miles
- Ipswich Town vs Fulham: 93 miles
- Cheltenham Town vs Barnet: 91 miles
- Luton Town vs Colchester United: 85 miles
- Millwall vs Swindon Town: 85 miles
- Rotherham United vs Wigan Athletic: 83 miles
- Rochdale vs Chesterfield: 78 miles
- Milton Keynes Dons vs Charlton Athletic: 75 miles
- Barnsley vs Blackburn Rovers: 74 miles
- Southend United vs AFC Wimbledon: 73 miles
- Huddersfield Town vs Nottingham Forest: 69 miles
- Preston North End vs Leeds United: 66 miles
- Leyton Orient vs Crawley Town: 61 miles
- Bradford City vs Scunthorpe United: 60 miles
- Fleetwood Town vs Bury: 53 miles
- Notts County vs Doncaster Rovers: 48 miles
- Yeovil Town vs Exeter City: 47 miles
- Oxford United vs Northampton Town: 47 miles
- Sheffield United vs Oldham Athletic: 42 miles
- Port Vale vs Walsall: 40 miles
- Aston Villa vs Burton Albion: 33 miles
- Stevenage vs Cambridge United: 33 miles
Brighton vs Queens Park Rangers: 78 miles
Derby County vs Birmingham City: 53 miles
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