On this day in 1919, Coventry City finally broke their winless streak in the Second Division by defeating Stoke 3-2 at Highfield Road. Prior to this victory, Coventry had endured a challenging season, losing 14 matches and drawing 5, without scoring a goal in their last 11 games. However, the joy was short-lived as they faced Stoke again the following day and suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat in the return fixture.
25th December 1924
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Christmas Day 1924 was a memorable one for Leicester City’s John Duncan, who set a club record by scoring six goals in a 7-0 victory over Port Vale in a Second Division match at Filbert Street. The seventh goal was netted by Arthur Chandler, who would later match Duncan’s record by scoring six goals in Leicester’s record 10-0 League victory against Portsmouth in October 1928.
25th December 1936
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It was a less than festive occasion for Wrexham’s Ambrose Wilson during a Division 3 (North) match against Hull City. Wilson was sent off just 20 seconds into the game, marking a particularly unhappy Christmas Day for the player and his team.
25th December 1957
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Jimmy Greaves made headlines on Christmas Day 1957 by scoring his first League hat-trick for Chelsea in a thrilling 7-4 victory over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge. Greaves went on to score a total of four goals in the match, showcasing his remarkable talent and setting the stage for a prolific career.
The last Football League match to be played on Christmas Day took place in 1965, with Blackpool defeating Blackburn Rovers 4-2 at Bloomfield Road. The match attracted a crowd of 20,851 spectators, marking the end of an era for Christmas Day football fixtures in the Football League.