Tradition would dictate that Christmas Day, despite its celebrations, remains business as usual for top-flight footballers
In previous years, footballers have had limited family time on December 25 due to training and tactical sessions for Boxing Day fixtures. However, this year, Crystal Palace’s players have a more relaxed Christmas schedule with a six-day gap between their last match against Brighton & Hove Albion on December 21 and their upcoming fixture against Chelsea on December 27. This break allows the players to enjoy the festive season with their families. Defender Tyrick Mitchell shared his plans for Christmas Day, expressing the hope for more family time due to the absence of a Boxing Day game. Mitchell usually spends Christmas at his Mum’s, enjoying a traditional roast and engaging in card and board games, with Frustration being the household favorite.
Whilst Mitchell grew up in Harrow, the almost 4,500 miles separating Chris Richards from his home in Birmingham, Alabama makes a Christmas Day return highly unlikely.
Thankfully, however, the defender-turned-midfielder is hosting the party this year. Richards said: “My family’s coming over, so I think we’ll just being able to sit around and just enjoy each other’s company!
“Christmas is often the one time of the year where you can relax a little bit – but for us footballers it normally isn’t!
“But I think for my family, for my siblings who are coming, I think it’ll be good to just be able to enjoy each other’s company for a time without any interruptions.”
The Richards’ plan? “We always watch This Christmas. It’s a movie which we watch every Christmas Eve as a family – it’s our big tradition!
“We don’t really play any games, but I know my little brother will come and wake us up on Christmas Day as early as possible. We’ll probably all just sit there and watch him open his presents – and then we’ll do ours!”
Family time is also on the cards for Rob Holding, whose full family are making the trip down to London. “My Mum, Dad and sister are coming down from Manchester to spend it with me.
“There’s nothing we really do every single year, like a tradition – we’ll just have Christmas dinner, everyone together around the table.
“Normally my Mum and Dad cook so my sister and I just chill out, watching TV and playing a few games. I’m always a big fan of Charades!
“As a kid, I always remember watching Zulu over Christmas. My Dad and I were always the first ones up, downstairs, and we’d just watch Zulu, that film with Michael Caine. It’s always on around Christmas – but it’s not Christmassy at all…”
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson will also enjoy his family time this Christmas Day, albeit in a different location since his move from Manchester – and with a new presence at the dinner table!
He smiled: “It’s my little boy’s first Christmas, so I’ll be spending family time in a hotel in London with my missus. It’ll be a lovely day.
“This one’s a bit different because we’re down here on our own, but it’ll be nice to spend it with the big man’s first Christmas.”
Any Christmas routines for the ‘keeper? “We don’t really have any traditions – just obviously big dinners and getting the family together most Christmases!
“We get the presents out early doors, straight away, get ‘em out, get ‘em opened!
“We used to have a spell where we played Monopoly a lot, but it depends on numbers. We also usually watch Home Alone,** it’s the best one by a mile – Home Alone 1 and 2, that is. 3 and 4 aren’t great!”
Read also: “Rangers Roar Back: Rangers trashes Motherwell 2-0, reducing Celtics lead by 2 points along with it.
