A Christmas Eve game would be a slap in the face for football fans

THE festive fixture list is comfortably one of the best aspects of English football. 

- Dan Kilpatrick

The run of games between mid-December and the FA Cup third round in early January sets t h e Premier League a part from Europe’s other top competitions (which sluggishly take the time off) and usually proves a defining spell in the fortunes of clubs across the divisions.

The period is also special for supporters; wrapping up with friends or generations of family to attend the Boxing Day or New Year’s football is one of this country’s great sporting traditions, while it is hard to top settling in with leftovers and nursing a mild hangover to watch your team on TV.

There should, though, be some limits and in the latest reminder that nothing is sacred where the Premier League is concerned, this year is expected to see the first Christmas Eve fixture since 1995 when Chelsea travel to Wolves.

The game is set to be pushed back 24 hours from December 23 to fulfil broadcasting requirements in an all-too- familiar middle finger to match-going fans.

Supporters of both clubs, but especially Chelsea, now face an unenviable choice between their team and their family, and a potentially grim journey on a day when the UK’s public transport system will be even more limited than usual — not least because Christmas Eve this year falls on a Sunday.