On this day in 1896, Darwen achieved a remarkable victory over Walsall in a Division 2 match, winning 12-0. This emphatic result remains one of the most significant victories recorded on Boxing Day.
26th December 1920
------------------
The Dick Kerr’s Ladies Football team, formed during the First World War in a Preston munitions factory, played against St Helens Ladies at Goodison Park. The match drew a capacity crowd of 53,000, with over 10,000 more unable to gain entry. This event highlighted the growing popularity of women’s football, despite the Football Association’s disapproval at the time.
26th December 1927
------------------
In a dramatic Third Division (South) match at the County Ground, Luton Town led Northampton Town 5-1 at half-time, with Syd Reid scoring four goals. However, Northampton staged a remarkable comeback to win 6-5, demonstrating that in football, it’s never over until the final whistle.
26th December 1930
------------------
Hull City recorded a significant victory over Halifax Town in Division 3 North, winning 10-0. This match is remembered as one of the standout Boxing Day results in the history of the competition.
Everton and Sunderland faced each other in a memorable series of matches. On Christmas Day, Everton defeated Sunderland 6-2 at Goodison Park. The following day, Sunderland turned the tables with a 7-0 victory at Roker Park. The two teams met again a month later in the FA Cup, with Everton winning 6-4.
26th December 1935
------------------
Tranmere Rovers achieved a remarkable 13-4 victory over Oldham Athletic in Division 3 North. This high-scoring match remains one of the most notable results in the history of Boxing Day fixtures.
26th December 1962
------------------
Oldham Athletic recorded an 11-0 victory over Southport in Division 4. This result is one of the most significant victories in the history of the division, showcasing Oldham’s dominance on the day.
26th December 1963
------------------
A record number of goals were scored in the top division, with 66 goals across 10 matches. Fulham’s 10-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage was particularly notable, marking the last time a club scored double figures in a top-flight match.
26th December 1979
------------------
The two Sheffield clubs, Wednesday and United, faced each other in the Third Division for the first time. Sheffield Wednesday triumphed 4-0 at Hillsborough, with a record Third Division crowd of 49,309 in attendance.
Chelsea made history by fielding the first all non-British starting line-up in a Premier League match. They secured a 2-1 victory over Southampton, with players from various countries including the Netherlands, Spain, Nigeria, Brazil, France, Romania, Italy, Uruguay, and Norway. The team was managed by Gianluca Vialli of Italy.
26th December 2008
------------------
Hull City manager Phil Brown made headlines when he refused to allow his players to return to the dressing room at half-time during a Premier League match against Manchester City. With Hull trailing 4-0, Brown delivered a stern team talk on the pitch in front of the travelling fans.