A lot has changed about the game since my first Christmas as a footballer, 50 years ago. Over Christmas and Easter, the two busiest times of the season, you'd be non-stop. Christmas was one of the two extra pay days we would hope would come our way. If the senior players were in on Christmas Day, the apprentices based in Bristol would be obliged to cover for us. Every club I was at, we had someone who would organise Christmas days - and nights - out.

Source: BBC December 24, 2025 06:41 UTC