Leeds United fans' alternative Boxing Day options with films, AFCON and non-league offering
Leeds United fans will be without their Whites Boxing Day fix this year with the Premier League boasting just a singular fixture.
For any Leeds supporters feeling a little put out by the Scrooges at the Premier League, their festive mood will hardly be helped by the identity of one of the teams actually playing in a top flight fixture on television this Boxing Day. Manchester United's game against Newcastle United is the solitary game on December 26. There are more games on Saturday and then Leeds play at Sunderland in one of Sunday's two fixtures.
Life is about more than just football and the weather is currently due to be fine and dry in the Leeds area on Boxing Day, making a family walk that little bit more appealing. BBC 1 will carry Paddington 2, BBC 2 will be showing The Italian Job and The Great Escape, Kung Fu Panda 2 is on ITV and there's live AFCON action on Channel 4 in the form of Egypt against South Africa.
But if live, in-person football attendance is the only thing that will make Boxing Day feel normal, Leeds fans are not without options.
It might not be Elland Road, but York City's LNER Community Stadium will play host to live football tomorrow as Boston United visit for a National League fixture. York are in the mix at the top of the table, Boston United are 16th. The hosts will be the heavy favourites and have outscored everyone else in the division by a mile so far this season so there could be goals.
A couple of levels below, Guiseley are taking on Gainsborough Trinity at home with a 3pm kick-off in the Northern Premier League's Premier Division. There is a Yorkshire derby taking place at 1pm in the Northern Premier League East between Garforth Town and Emley. At the same time, Bradford Park Avenue welcome Pontefract Collieries. And at 3pm in the same division Ossett United will face Matlock Town at home.
Non-league is brilliant for so many reasons but on Boxing Day clubs who genuinely need the gate receipts can enjoy bumper crowds, so the Premier League's Grinch-like theft of festival football does not have to ruin Christmas completely.