Chelsea v Arsenal, Christmas Day 1956

Welcome back to the latest instalment of my now very occasional blog 'After You've Gone', and the ongoing seasonal exploration of football programmes for matches played over Christmas. This time we have a First Division encounter between Chelsea and Arsenal on Christmas Day 1956 at Stamford Bridge. The return match, which traditionally took place about twenty four hours later, was at Arsenal's Highbury stadium on Boxing Day.

Note that this London Derby was played on a Tuesday, offering fans an opportunity to watch football on both weekdays of the two-day Christmas Public Holiday. However, in the utterly male-serving tradition that had been played out since the Victorian era, the Christmas Day fixtures usually kicked-off at 11am. A time that meant the men could return home after the game to their Xmas Day lunch table that had most likely been prepared by their wives, mothers or sisters. 

 

The Chelsea programme had retained the same format for their past three seasons. A blue and white cover with an overhead illustration of the pitch and the ground's extensive terracing. The publication was sixteen pages thick, and just like Arsenal's match day programme, it contained no external advertising. 

the centrespread complete with a nice example of rusty staples

A highlight of this Christmas Day programme is this delightful 'Seasonal Greetings' illustration by Mickey Durling in the centrespread. It depicts the Chelsea first team players, Manager Ted Drake, as well as their coach and trainer. Durling's cartoons were a regular feature of the sports press in the 1950s, and he's clearly enjoying himself in the Christmas spirit. Two players are decorating the Christmas Tree, outside right Peter Bradbrook is shown carrying a turkey, and there are two players pushing right back Peter MacFarlane on his sled. 

The Line Ups Xmas Day, 1956

"It isn't good counting the chickens" from the programme's regular column 'This and That', 

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Chelsea's December Fixtures, 1956/57

For the record, Chelsea v Arsenal on Christmas Day 1956 ended up as a 1-1 draw, played in front of 32,094 spectators. It would be so interesting to know how many female fans were at this match, and not back home, getting Xmas lunch ready for the returning men. Something of course we will never be able to find out...

What we do know is that this programme marks the final season when a full set of First Division fixtures were played on Christmas Day. In fact for Arsenal, this was to be their last ever match scheduled on a Christmas Day. However, the following season 1957/58, Chelsea were at home again on 25th December, and then on Christmas Day 1958, they won their last ever Xmas Day match three-nil away at Blackburn Rovers.

          'SEASONAL GREETINGS' from AFTER YOU'VE GONE