Fixtures Calendar - 2025/26

Raimond said:
I'm definitely not defending their logic! I'd just read elsewhere this was the case. In fairness it is only a few days before the Christmas fixtures, maybe they're awaiting the draw to make sure there's no duplication of fixtures or owt?
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Again, zero effect even if there's repeat of a fixture near by the league cup tie, so what? Happens all the time, they're not going to change PL fixture order because of a draw in the cup, neither can cup say, oh you play them again on weekend so let's make you play a different opposition ...

Whenever there is a delay, it's the TV companies who can't agree with each other or wanting to make a team play at a certain team who is then going back and forth with them trying to get out of that or the local police objecting to a high profile game at a certain time etc. so hold up could be anything, but it's also incompetency of the highest order that such a large organization can't sort this earlier. I mean in the end they will announce fixtures and all would have agreed to them (TVs, Clubs, Police, PL) ... just pisses off people that they always do this without any regard for fans and take their own time going back and forth as and when it suits them.
 
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Interesting article regarding the Christmas PL fixtures that’s appeared in The Times.

www.thetimes.com

Only one Premier League game set for Boxing Day due to calendar pressure

Tradition of December 26 football set to be all but broken this year as top flight fulfils broadcaster obligations with conventional weekend of matches instead
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com

It’s behind a paywall so for anyone unable to access, the delay in confirmation is mainly due to the PL’s contract with the broadcasters that stipulates the league must provide 33 ‘weekends’ of fixtures over the course of the season with a weekend consisting of Saturday/Sunday with a maximum of one game on Friday and one game on Monday. It seems that in order to meet the 33 weekend minimum, Saturday/Sunday 27/28 December must be used due to the lack of alternatives in the calendar. This means that only one game can take place on Boxing Day (Friday) and several clubs aren’t happy about that at all hence the lengthy delay in confirming the fixtures.
For what it’s worth, the EFL (with no hands tied contractually) is having a full traditional programme of fixtures on Boxing Day.
 
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Manc Born & Bred said:
To give more time to teams in Europe teams playing on a Tuesday should be, where possible given the Saturday lunchtime game especially if the Tuesday game is away. Those extra few hours could make all the difference. So based on that Sky will fuck us over and put us on at 20:00
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Edited for truth

:)
 
Alfie Budd said:
Interesting article regarding the Christmas PL fixtures that’s appeared in The Times.

www.thetimes.com

Only one Premier League game set for Boxing Day due to calendar pressure

Tradition of December 26 football set to be all but broken this year as top flight fulfils broadcaster obligations with conventional weekend of matches instead
www.thetimes.com www.thetimes.com

It’s behind a paywall so for anyone unable to access, the delay in confirmation is mainly due to the PL’s contract with the broadcasters that stipulates the league must provide 33 ‘weekends’ of fixtures over the course of the season with a weekend consisting of Saturday/Sunday with a maximum of one game on Friday and one game on Monday. It seems that in order to meet the 33 weekend minimum, Saturday/Sunday 27/28 December must be used due to the lack of alternatives in the calendar. This means that only one game can take place on Boxing Day (Friday) and several clubs aren’t happy about that at all hence the lengthy delay in confirming the fixtures.
For what it’s worth, the EFL (with no hands tied contractually) is having a full traditional programme of fixtures on Boxing Day.
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Ok thanks, hadn’t appreciated that.

So is it because of way the calendar falls this particular year, that there it’s a “Boxing Day round”, when all 10 fixtures will be televised in the UK, and that all we’ll have instead a usual weekend carve-up/pattern of matches?

(I’m guessing the solution to my question would be just to have nothing at 3pm on the Saturday 27th, and put them all to the Sunday 28th when Sly could then show them all??)

Edit.
Does the current tv deal mean if in future Boxing Day falls midweek, it’ll revert to a show all 10 matches situation?
 
chesterbells said:
Ok thanks, hadn’t appreciated that.

So is it because of way the calendar falls this particular year, that there it’s a “Boxing Day round”, when all 10 fixtures will be televised in the UK, and that all we’ll have instead a usual weekend carve-up/pattern of matches?

(I’m guessing the solution to my question would be just to have nothing at 3pm on the Saturday 27th, and put them all to the Sunday 28th when Sly could then show them all??)

Edit.
Does the current tv deal mean if in future Boxing Day falls midweek, it’ll revert to a show all 10 matches situation?
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That would mean all games on 31st then which won't happen unless they make everyone play twice in 2 days but they only like making us do that.
 
James2401125 said:
Unpopular opinion but boxing day football is crap.
Public transport is non existent and the pubs are filled with once a year drinkers.
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It gets you out of the house and it’s infinitely preferable to the sales, are the main benefits I’d say, and also although I often combine drink and football, Boxing Day and New Years Day are the two times each season I’m more than happy to drive tbh.
 
chesterbells said:
It gets you out of the house and it’s infinitely preferable to the sales, are the main benefits I’d say, and also although I often combine drink and football, Boxing Day and New Years Day are the two times each season I’m more than happy to drive tbh.
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I'm not really sure the sales exist as they once did but infinitely preferable to relatives yes.
 
Daily Mail explanation on TV picks

^ This article from the other week explains the process. It is basically suggesting that the tv companies are holding off deciding to give themselves more time to see what the best fixtures are by who is where and how they are doing
 
Wirral Blue8 said:
Daily Mail explanation on TV picks

^ This article from the other week explains the process. It is basically suggesting that the tv companies are holding off deciding to give themselves more time to see what the best fixtures are by who is where and how they are doing
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Maybe the league table this year is causing them some confusion!

Edit. Having been reminded of the 6 week minimum rule by that Mail article, it seems 8 Nov weekend is basically the deadline to bear in mind for these late Dec fixtures.
 
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M18CTID said:
It's shit for away games though as there are no trains
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Maybe it's false memories but I seem to think that we always used to play Everton or Liverpool on Boxing Day and United would play the other one. Pretty sure we played Crewe Away on Boxing Day one year whist on our lower league travels as well. Makes sense to keep thinks as local as possible on a day with no trains, but I guess that's not high on their agenda these days.

I'd certainly rather go to Forest on the 27th, than fuck about having to get a lift on Boxing Day.
 
James2401125 said:
Unpopular opinion but boxing day football is crap.
Public transport is non existent and the pubs are filled with once a year drinkers.
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Boxing Day great on the lash, so can live without us being on that day. If we are, then a lunchtime KO and a win followed by a few beers. Perfect.
 
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