Pubs showing all the Boxing Day football fixtures
If you’ve spent Christmas Day busy in the kitchen preparing a turkey feast or tidying up after a party, why not head to your nearest Greene King on Boxing Day and enjoy a well-deserved break?
There’s nothing like Boxing Day football, where you can enjoy the festive gift of goals and the present of a grassy pitch. Whether you're cheering on your team or just enjoying a day of great sport, there's plenty to raise a glass to.
And with so many of our sports pubs showcasing the action with TNT Sports and Sky Sports on our screens, we like to think of ourselves as the perfect hosts.
A focus on the fixtures
Boxing Day football was thrown a bit of a curveball this year when the Premier League said there were no fixtures confirmed for Boxing Day in a bid to give players a longer break with their families over the festive season. But footie fans can still get their fix, with games scheduled for the Sky Bet Championship and the leagues below. And at Greene King, you can catch every nail-biting moment!
Let’s take a look at some of the matches…
14:30: Birmingham vs Derby
15:00: Coventry vs Swansea
15:00: Leicester vs Watford
15:00: Middlesbrough vs Blackburn
15:00: Millwall vs Ipswich
15:00: Norwich vs Charlton
15:00: Oxford Utd vs Southampton
15:00: Portsmouth vs QPR
15:00: Sheff Wed vs Hull
15:00: Stoke vs Preston North End
15:00: West Brom vs Bristol City
17:30: Wrexham vs Sheff Utd
The history of the post-Christmas kick-off
Boxing Day football is a long-standing tradition in the UK and dates back to the 19th century. The day after Christmas was originally reserved for charitable giving and time with the family.
In fact, the name Boxing Day comes from the historical custom of Christmas boxes, which were gifts or money typically given to those in need.
But Boxing Day soon became associated with sport, especially football. With many people off work and eager for a form of entertainment, clubs began to schedule matches for Boxing Day in the hopes of drawing in larger crowds.
In the early days of the Football League, teams would often play two fixtures over Christmas: one on Christmas Day and another on Boxing Day.
The Christmas Day matches were phased out by the 1960s, and the Premier League has started to phase out their Boxing Day matches, but there's still plenty of lower league action to enjoy.
A time for festive cheer(ing)
Football is a sport that’s best enjoyed with a crowd, and what better way to celebrate the beautiful game than a Boxing Day trip to a Greene King sports pub?
Leave the pots and pans in the kitchen sink and the leftovers for another day. We’ve got a packed menu full of classic plates and seasonal treats. If you’re tired of the turkey, tuck into a succulent steak, a stacked burger, or a flavourful curry.
You may not be able to make it to the pitch on Boxing Day, so head to the pub instead. We’ve got the tastiest dishes, plus a stocked bar with a great selection of drinks. We’re talking the best beers, wines, and spirits, as well as low and no-alcohol options.
You can cheer on the wins with your fellow footie fans and commiserate with the losses. Feel every high and low alongside fans who truly understand the emotional rollercoaster of a great match.
Find a pub for the Boxing Day football fixtures
Festive football is best experienced with a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of Christmas cheer. That’s why you should join us in your local Greene King pub.
Just put your postcode into our pub finder and you’ll get a list of all the best pubs showing live football near you– or wherever you’re spending the Christmas break. If you're not spending Christmas at home, we'll have somewhere near wherever you’re spending the Christmas break.
Book a table online and save a front row seat to all the action in the Boxing Day football fixtures.