There’s always a decent turnout for football matches on Boxing Day, which is nice. Family groups process heartily towards stadia, their breaths puffing frostily in the air. There is much smiling and sporting of suspiciously new club-shop clobber. Many wear Santa hats. It’s a smashing seasonal treat, an alternative to a substantial blow-the-cobwebs-away walk.

Upon taking our seats in the stadium someone will say, “Good turnout; nice to see.” Someone else will then say, sagely, “Always is, Boxing Day.”