The tradition of festive football in Britain has roots in medieval "mob football" dating back to around 1170. Organised matches on Christmas Day and Boxing Day became popular in the Victorian era, offering a rare public holiday leisure activity for the working class. The first official Boxing Day match saw Sheffield FC play Hallam FC in 1860.
The 1871 Bank Holidays Act solidified Boxing Day as a public holiday, further embedding football into the festive period. Clubs often scheduled local derbies on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day to maximise attendances and minimise travel. However, Christmas Day fixtures gradually ceased, with the last English League match played in 1965 between Blackpool and Blackburn.
Today, Boxing Day remains a unique and integral part of the British football calendar, distinguishing it from many other European leagues that observe a winter break. The day continues to draw large crowds, maintaining a long-standing cultural phenomenon.
