Twas the weekend before Christmas

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1973Blade

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I don't know why the 'random' computer does it, but it seems to like giving us an away match for the weekend before Christmas (ten times out of the last eleven seasons), usually as far away as possible. And we've done well in them! In the ten away games we have won six, drawn four and lost none. Hopefully a return to Brighton next season pre Christmas in the PremierLeague! The results are as follows:
17/12/2011 a 2-0 win at Bournemouth
22/12/2012 a 2-0 win at Crawley
21/12/2013 a 0-0 draw at Stevenage
20/12/2014 we played at home!
19/12/2015 a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe
15/12/2016 a 2-1 win at Coventry
23/12/2017 a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa
22/12/2018 a 1-1.draw.at Ipswich
22/12/2019 a 1-0 win at Brighton
21/12/2020 a 1-1 draw at Brighton
20/12/2021 a 1-0 win at Fulham.
 



I asked a pal of mine who knows everything about this, he explained there is a reason behind the computer churning out fixtures like this at this time of year.

The fixtures for Boxing Day, the one between Xmas and new year and the NYD fixtures are calculated by putting the divisions into 4 x 25% of division sized pots. This is based on mileage and crucially travel TIME, that’s time not necessarily mileage. It then factors in public transport availability between towns/cities - then its policed respectively.

So therefore the Blades are in a pot this season of Preston, Hull and Middlesbrough and the 2 clubs believed to in the pot also were Birmingham and Coventry.

The local derbies due to police are ruled out ie - Barnsley for us this season. In turn this means the surrounding games are usually somewhat further afield.

There is as ever the odd exception to the rule, but this is the formula for the bulk of teams.
 
I asked a pal of mine who knows everything about this, he explained there is a reason behind the computer churning out fixtures like this at this time of year.

The fixtures for Boxing Day, the one between Xmas and new year and the NYD fixtures are calculated by putting the divisions into 4 x 25% of division sized pots. This is based on mileage and crucially travel TIME, that’s time not necessarily mileage. It then factors in public transport availability between towns/cities - then its policed respectively.

So therefore the Blades are in a pot this season of Preston, Hull and Middlesbrough and the 2 clubs believed to in the pot also were Birmingham and Coventry.

The local derbies due to police are ruled out ie - Barnsley for us this season. In turn this means the surrounding games are usually somewhat further afield.

There is as ever the odd exception to the rule, but this is the formula for the bulk of teams.
Thanks, I never knew that!
 
Boxing Day

2000 - WBA (h) won 2-0
2001 - Bradford (a) won 2-1
2002 - Walsall (a) won 1-0
2003 - Coventry (a) won 1-0
2004 - Coventry (a) won 2-1
2005 - Norwich (h) lost 1-3
2006 - Man City (h) lost 0-1
2007 - Blackpool (h) drew 1-1
2008 - wolves (a) drew 1-1
2009 - Leicester (a) lost 1-2
2010 - Hull (h) lost 2-3
2011 - no game
2012 - Scunthorpe (h) won 3-0
2013 - Oldham (h) drew 1-1
2014 - Port Vale (a) lost 1-2
2015 - no game
2016 - Oldham (h) won 2-0
2017 - Sunderland (h) won 3-0
2018 - Derby (h) won 3-1
2019 - Watford (h) drew 1-1
2020 - Everton (h) lost 0-1
2021 Preston away

So stats to deduce
  • Our first away game on Boxing Day since 2014
  • won 9 of last 19 Boxing Day games, drawn 4 lost 6
  • last Boxing Day away win 2004 at Coventry
 
Good post YorkBlade.

Going further back in my mind Boxing Day has always been a good day for SUFC. Recall some cracking games and wins as a lad. Hull 4-2 (Beagrie), Leeds 2-2 in the promotion season of 89-90. Did less well in the Prem...Cov lost 3-0 at home and Man City inspired by David White beat us in 93?

Remember massive followings at Bradford and Stoke in the mid 90s for a win and a late draw when Deano scored and it all kicked off outside the ground.

We then seemed to go to Coventry for a few Boxing days but always won.

Recent years two full houses and great 2nd half performances saw us blitz Sunderland and Derby.

Generally always have happy memories of going with family to the games. We would go home or away with my Dad and my Uncles and it seemed tradition. Not going this year though sadly
 
Good post YorkBlade.

Going further back in my mind Boxing Day has always been a good day for SUFC. Recall some cracking games and wins as a lad. Hull 4-2 (Beagrie), Leeds 2-2 in the promotion season of 89-90. Did less well in the Prem...Cov lost 3-0 at home and Man City inspired by David White beat us in 93?

Remember massive followings at Bradford and Stoke in the mid 90s for a win and a late draw when Deano scored and it all kicked off outside the ground.

We then seemed to go to Coventry for a few Boxing days but always won.

Recent years two full houses and great 2nd half performances saw us blitz Sunderland and Derby.

Generally always have happy memories of going with family to the games. We would go home or away with my Dad and my Uncles and it seemed tradition. Not going this year though sadly
Not always been a good day. I'll leave it there.
 
I don't know why the 'random' computer does it, but it seems to like giving us an away match for the weekend before Christmas (ten times out of the last eleven seasons), usually as far away as possible. And we've done well in them! In the ten away games we have won six, drawn four and lost none. Hopefully a return to Brighton next season pre Christmas in the PremierLeague! The results are as follows:
17/12/2011 a 2-0 win at Bournemouth
22/12/2012 a 2-0 win at Crawley
21/12/2013 a 0-0 draw at Stevenage
20/12/2014 we played at home!
19/12/2015 a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe
15/12/2016 a 2-1 win at Coventry
23/12/2017 a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa
22/12/2018 a 1-1.draw.at Ipswich
22/12/2019 a 1-0 win at Brighton
21/12/2020 a 1-1 draw at Brighton
20/12/2021 a 1-0 win at Fulham.
It’s the best birthday gift I get each year.
 



I don't know why the 'random' computer does it, but it seems to like giving us an away match for the weekend before Christmas (ten times out of the last eleven seasons), usually as far away as possible. And we've done well in them! In the ten away games we have won six, drawn four and lost none. Hopefully a return to Brighton next season pre Christmas in the PremierLeague! The results are as follows:
17/12/2011 a 2-0 win at Bournemouth
22/12/2012 a 2-0 win at Crawley
21/12/2013 a 0-0 draw at Stevenage
20/12/2014 we played at home!
19/12/2015 a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe
15/12/2016 a 2-1 win at Coventry
23/12/2017 a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa
22/12/2018 a 1-1.draw.at Ipswich
22/12/2019 a 1-0 win at Brighton
21/12/2020 a 1-1 draw at Brighton
20/12/2021 a 1-0 win at Fulham.
Good record that though.

We're usually at home on Boxing Day. My piggy mates point this out to me regularly.
 
I’m not sure I do either! There was a thing a few year back around United not being allowed at home on St Leger day.


St Leger is early September if anyone wants to do a potted history? 🤣

Although would it not affect all local clubs? Also looks like it falls on an international break most years as well.
 
I don't know why the 'random' computer does it, but it seems to like giving us an away match for the weekend before Christmas (ten times out of the last eleven seasons), usually as far away as possible. And we've done well in them! In the ten away games we have won six, drawn four and lost none. Hopefully a return to Brighton next season pre Christmas in the PremierLeague! The results are as follows:
17/12/2011 a 2-0 win at Bournemouth
22/12/2012 a 2-0 win at Crawley
21/12/2013 a 0-0 draw at Stevenage
20/12/2014 we played at home!
19/12/2015 a 1-0 win at Scunthorpe
15/12/2016 a 2-1 win at Coventry
23/12/2017 a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa
22/12/2018 a 1-1.draw.at Ipswich
22/12/2019 a 1-0 win at Brighton
21/12/2020 a 1-1 draw at Brighton
20/12/2021 a 1-0 win at Fulham.
Another away win the weekend before Christmas. Good to keep the run going!
 
Don't worry, we're guaranteed to avoid defeat at Villa, we never lose away from home pre Christmas!
 
The run of away games before Christmas continues. This Saturday is the 13th time in the last 14 years we have been away on the weekend before Christmas. Not wishing to tempt fate, but we are unbeaten, winning seven and drawing five of them
So far our record is:
17/12/2011, 2-0 at Bournemouth
22/12/2012, 2-0 at Crawley
21/12/2013, 0-0 at Stevenage
20/12/2014, we played at home
19/12/2015. 1-0 at Scunthorpe
15/12/2016, 2-1 at Coventry
23/12/2017, 2-2 at Aston Villa
22/12/2018, 1-1 at Ipswich
21/12/2019, 1-0 at Brighton
20/12/2020. 1-1 at Brighton
20/12/2021, 1-0 at Fulham
19/12/2022, 2-1 at Wigan
22/12/2023, 1-1 at Aston Villa
My four highlights from those games:
1. Outplaying Brighton in our first season back in the Premier League
2. Ndiaye's goal v Fulham
3. Scoring last minute at Coventry thanks to their own fans time wasting!
4. Being shown on Sky TV in 2017, looking fed up sat next to a row of drunken fans in Santa outfits!
 
The run of away games before Christmas continues. This Saturday is the 13th time in the last 14 years we have been away on the weekend before Christmas. Not wishing to tempt fate, but we are unbeaten, winning seven and drawing five of them
So far our record is:
17/12/2011, 2-0 at Bournemouth
22/12/2012, 2-0 at Crawley
21/12/2013, 0-0 at Stevenage
20/12/2014, we played at home
19/12/2015. 1-0 at Scunthorpe
15/12/2016, 2-1 at Coventry
23/12/2017, 2-2 at Aston Villa
22/12/2018, 1-1 at Ipswich
21/12/2019, 1-0 at Brighton
20/12/2020. 1-1 at Brighton
20/12/2021, 1-0 at Fulham
19/12/2022, 2-1 at Wigan
22/12/2023, 1-1 at Aston Villa
My four highlights from those games:
1. Outplaying Brighton in our first season back in the Premier League
2. Ndiaye's goal v Fulham
3. Scoring last minute at Coventry thanks to their own fans time wasting!
4. Being shown on Sky TV in 2017, looking fed up sat next to a row of drunken fans in Santa outfits!
Remember seeing the Santas doing the conga on Sky 🤣
 
I asked a pal of mine who knows everything about this, he explained there is a reason behind the computer churning out fixtures like this at this time of year.

The fixtures for Boxing Day, the one between Xmas and new year and the NYD fixtures are calculated by putting the divisions into 4 x 25% of division sized pots. This is based on mileage and crucially travel TIME, that’s time not necessarily mileage. It then factors in public transport availability between towns/cities - then its policed respectively.

So therefore the Blades are in a pot this season of Preston, Hull and Middlesbrough and the 2 clubs believed to in the pot also were Birmingham and Coventry.

The local derbies due to police are ruled out ie - Barnsley for us this season. In turn this means the surrounding games are usually somewhat further afield.

There is as ever the odd exception to the rule, but this is the formula for the bulk of teams.
i think i read that there are games that are picked manually before the fixture computer & boxing day is supposed to be your closest game that isnt a local derby
 
i think i read that there are games that are picked manually before the fixture computer & boxing day is supposed to be your closest game that isnt a local derby
Explain how we end up with Wrexham then 2 hours (minimum) away.
 



Explain how we end up with Wrexham then 2 hours (minimum) away.
my guess is that wrexham are crazily not that far from us. so when you when you look at it & possible teams we could play
wednesday - local derby
Preston & Blackburn - Already played
West brom 12th december
Birmingham - 20th dec
Stoke - 29th dec
Leicester - 1st Jan

Derby we could have but they are playing birmingham & Wrexham is only 16 miles further away than stoke, is bit closer than west brom

1766259125065.webp
 

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