The Guardian: Christmas away day is no turkey

Christmas away day is no turkey
Source: The Guardian

Christmas away day is no turkey

Having swapped Barcelona for Barrow and Chelsea for Cheadle, FC United's Tony Howard is relishing the experience of Boxing Day at Flixton

Thursday December 22, 2005

After years of trips to Anfield or Goodison for a day of simmering inter-city rivalry, where 'Boxing' Day would often prove a lot more literal than festive; or journeys to daft places like Middlesbrough with a hangover, a date at Flixton beckons on Monday. Where? Well, it's about two miles from Old Trafford and, for many of us, that means we're walking off the Christmas turkey on the way to the game.

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The Boxing Day fixture has been a highlight of football fans' festive calendars for years; thinking about it helps you get through the rigours of Christmas Day and gives you something to look forward to when you've had one too many mince pies. It's just the excuse you need to get away from the family and down to the boozer with your mates, then into the ground to let off some steam. All while showing off your new trainers.

But how many Manchester United fans would have thought they would one day swap Anfield Road for Valley Road, Flixton? Then again, who would have thought of swapping Barcelona for Barrow, Arsenal for Accrington, or Chelsea for Cheadle? If the angel Gabriel himself had come down and visited me as I dragged myself up for last Boxing Day's match against Bolton and told me that this year I'd be going to Flixton, I'd have put it down to a drink-induced hallucination.

It's a strange world we now live in, but halfway through our first season and 13 points clear at the top of North West Counties Division Two, I wager my Christmas cracker prize that few regret their choice. Merry Fcumas.

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