Once upon a time, football on Christmas Day was as much a part of the festive routine as decorating a tree, unwrapping gifts from friends and family or even tucking into a roast dinner.
It was a tradition that dated all the way back to 1889 when the first competitive league fixture took place on 25 December at Deepdale. Reigning champions Preston North End hosted Aston Villa on home soil, running out 3-2 winners over the West Midlands team.
The Lilywhites had completed the league and cup double in the inaugural Football League campaign in 1888/89.
One of the League’s Founding Members, Preston remained unbeaten throughout across a 22-league-game season, registering 18 wins and four draws as they stormed to the title, before beating Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup Final, which ultimately led to the side being christened the original ‘Invincibles’.
Preston would retain their crown the following year, but the Lancashire outfit’s form faltered in the run up to the Christmas period. The Lilywhites drew with Blackburn Rovers before suffering defeat to Everton in the month of December, prior to the visit of the Villains.
Preston North End's Nick Ross
Scottish striker Nick Ross – the Lilywhites skipper who had established himself as one of “the most brilliant” defenders before discovering his eye for goal while on the Club’s books – had Preston 1-0 up within six minutes when he broke the deadlock in front of almost 9,000 supporters inside the stadium.
However, Villa turned the score-line on its head before the break, with goals from Isaac Moore and William Dickson giving the away team a 2-1 advantage at the halfway point.
As the second half got underway, star of the show Ross – the first player to score in an EFL fixture on a historic Christmas Day – stole the headlines for North End when he equalised from distance for the home side.
The Club’s top scorer Ross – who hit double figures that season for the Lilywhites after following his younger brother Jimmy Ross south of the border to sign for North End – sealed his hat-trick. The leading marksman grabbed the winner to cap off the comeback in a hard-fought 3-2 victory for Preston.v