Long before festive television schedules became the norm, football provided one of the few escapes from the Christmas routine. In the Victorian era, matches were commonly played on Christmas Day, when supporters enjoyed rare time off work and clubs were keen to take advantage of bank holidays to maximise attendances. The tradition gradually faded with the last Christmas Day match in England taking place in 1965. However, Derby County’s final fixture on the day came eight years earlier, away at Bristol City on 25 December 1957.

The official programme for the match reflected a growing unease with the festive fixture list. Welcoming the Rams, Bristol City noted that “there is a sound movement in football to ban Christmas Day games and merely on the basis of three matches in five days it would be a good thing for the players”, a sentiment that hinted at the changes soon to come.

On the pitch, however, neither side produced their best football. The Derby Telegraph reported that both teams were below par and suggested Bristol City could “count themselves lucky” to edge a narrow 2–1 victory. City made the brighter start with England international striker John Atyeo, along with Etheridge and Curtis, all missing early chances. Rams goalkeeper Ken Oxford, recently signed from Norwich City, had to courageously dive at the feet of Curtis to deny another opportunity.

The breakthrough came in controversial circumstances after 24 minutes. Following a goalmouth scramble, Atyeo scored for City with the linesman signalling for offside but international referee B. M. Griffiths overruled the decision and allowed the goal to stand.

Derby responded well and were rewarded nine minutes before half-time when outside-right Tommy Powell rounded Thresher and played the ball through for Reg Ryan to equalise.

Bristol City regained the lead in the 64th minute when Curtis crossed from the right and Atyeo struck again. Derby believed they had equalised just two minutes later when Jack Parry raced past two defenders to collect a pass from Ryan and beat Anderson in the City goal, only for the referee to rule his effort offside.

Bristol City: Anderson, Rae, Thresher, Burden, Peacock, Williams (A), Hinshelwood, Atyeo, Curtis, Etheridge, Watkins

Derby County: Oxford, Barrowcliffe, Davies, Clark, McDonnell, Upton, Powell, Parry, Darwin, Ryan, Woodhead

Attendance: 16,836

The programme listed White as City’s number four, although Etheridge played instead. For Derby, Albert Mays did not feature, with Ben Clark selected at wing-half. Signed from Sunderland in 1954, Clark had made 35 appearances for Derby’s reserves the previous season. He went on to make 17 senior appearances over nearly five years before returning north to join Barrow for £1000 in February 1959.

Derby gained swift revenge the following day in a 5–2 victory with Parry scoring twice, and Ryan, Dennis Woodhead and George Darwin also finding the net.