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How showing ‘top tier’ matches on Boxing Day could benefit the Premier League and EFL

The American Way

It is a tradition in the NBA and - more recently - the NFL for games to be played on Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day. But not just any games, originally festive matchups would be selected based on geographical proximity, meaning that rivals would often play each other, this was so that players and staff could cut down on holiday travel, allowing them to have more time with their families. With many American families gathering at this time of year, and other major leagues in their offseason (MLS and MLB) viewing figures can skyrocket, especially if the lineup of fixtures is tasty.

Most woke nonsense opinion I hold is that the PL should play top-tier games on Boxing Day like they do in the NBA pic.twitter.com/OLl7qfxI4x
— // (@aggzzx) December 20, 2024

Nowadays whilst there are no specific rules on who plays who in the holiday season, officials from both the leagues and the networks that broadcast them plan the schedule of games for the upcoming holiday in the offseason. In the NBA the Christmas-time matchups typically include the teams that played in the previous season's Finals. Both the NBA and NFL also usually try to feature the league's reigning MVP, as well as the league's other best players. For example, the Celtics (NBA Champions) and the Chiefs (NFL Champions) are both playing on the 25th this year.

Boxing Day in England

Bringing the idea back around to football in England, the concept of ‘top games’ is something the Premier League is sorely missing out on. Of course, the Boxing Day tradition remains in England, with 16/20 Premier League clubs playing this Thursday, but out of the eight games, the best matchups look to be Nottingham Forest vs Spurs or Newcastle vs Aston Villa, and the only game considered a local rivalry is Chelsea vs Fulham.

Equally in the three divisions of the EFL, there have been no considerations, with the likes of QPR having to travel to Swansea the morning after Christmas. Sheffield United’s top of the table clash against Burnley is the only anomaly as they are widely considered two of the best teams in the league. The trend continues in League One and Two, although arguably games like Carlisle vs Morecambe, Huddersfield vs Stockport and Stevenage vs Wycombe could be viewed as strategically planned with location in mind.

Predicting which clubs will be near the top of the table come Boxing Day can be difficult, especially in divisions below the Premier League, but ‘top tier’ fixtures can be potentially predicted by looking at the previous season’s table.

Non League, Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales' approach

The rest of the UK can be an example of keeping geography in mind when selecting Boxing Day fixtures. In the Northern Irish Premier League, location is such a prominent part of decision making that even the four Belfast clubs will play the side nearest to them. In Wales, the four clubs in the South East play each other, as well as both sides based in Flintshire. Even Scotland sticks to the theme, with the Edinburgh Derby occurring on the 26th, as well as Rangers vs the nearby St. Mirren. This trend of course continues further down the footballing pyramid of each association.#

The most wonderful time of the year.

We can't wait 🎅🎄#SportsDirectPrem pic.twitter.com/4tP113mWIV
— NI Football League (@OfficialNIFL) December 24, 2024

Even English football copies this concept, but not until you reach the fifth and sixth tiers. All three Vanarama National League divisions select their Boxing Day. In the fifth tier the two sides in the North East, Gateshead and Hartlepool face off. Clubs from the likes of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and North Yorkshire play each other as well as the likes of Woking vs Aldershot. In the sixth tier, we see two London derbies, an all-Kent fixture as well as similar trends in the North East and North West.

The leagues mentioned are a lot more likely to follow these rules (as they contain clubs with nowhere near the financial power of the Premier League) so that travel costs are reduced. Although the likes of League One and Two arguably don’t have the same financial power as some Scottish Premiership clubs. It’s not just travel costs though, as mentioned prior players would have less travelling to do at this time of year, and the idea of a potential derby the day after Christmas only fuels the festive spirit.

How it could work in the Premier League

Dedicating a day to rivalries is also a concept in the MLS, in May the league has a ‘Rivalries Week’ where many teams in the same city, state or neighbouring states play one another. Looking at the Premier League 6/7 of the current London clubs could face off, with Crystal Palace travelling to Brighton for the M23 derby. Southampton could face Bournemouth on the South Coast, Wolves could play at Villa in the West Country, Forest could travel to the nearby Leicester as well as the obvious Manchester and Liverpool derbies. Unfortunately, that leaves Newcastle and Ipswich left, with their fans arguably feeling hard done by.

This system would also put fans at heart, giving them less travelling to do at one of the most expensive times on the calendar. And with the leagues changing every year it is never guaranteed that so many local matches could be played. Another concept could be having the four Champions League teams face off, as well as the two Europa League clubs and two of the promoted sides. The league could even introduce a Community Shield-style fixture, with the Premier League champion facing the FA Cup winner.

These are all of course just ideas that are unlikely to be introduced, but with Americans having an increased influence on the European game and no real reason against the format, you can’t help but ask, why not?