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EXCLUSIVE: RAMON VEGA - 'Christmas football and parties are a crucial part of the British footballing identity'
Yahoo's Sport Business Correspondent and ex-Premier League player Ramon Vega is a huge fan of the Christmas period in England, and after the initial shock, thinks unique part of British heritage must be retained, at all costs.
The festive season is upon us and everyone is getting ready to relax with their families, indulging in plenty of food, drink and general merry-making.
Not so if you’re a footballer in Britain, however.
I remember spending a large number of Christmas Days over the years in anonymous hotels ahead of matches on Boxing Day.
It is of course tough for those players with young families to be away from home at this time, but that is obviously just a part of the job and there are plenty of people in all walks of life who have to do the same, without getting the benefits that footballers do.
This period over Christmas and the New Year is, for me, a crucial part of the British footballing identity and heritage.
The games come as thick and fast as the tackles, the grounds are packed, and there’s a different kind of buzz and sense of anticipation around the games.
The sense that this is a special time of year for the fans going to watch football is definitely transmitted to the players and I have to say I always relished playing over the holiday period.
With so many games in such a short space of time, it’s almost as if you’re in tournament football mode, bouncing from one match straight into the next.
If your team goes through a rough patch, you can find yourselves plummeting down the league within a few days, yet conversely if you find a bit of form it can provide a real platform for the rest of the season.
It’s no wonder that most managers only really consider classifying teams as serious title contenders or relegation favourites after Christmas- this is when you see a team’s real mettle, when battling qualities come to the fore and consistency in performance and results is the most prized asset.
I personally always loved playing at this time of year. It was a bit of a shock when I first came to England, as obviously in the other European leagues everyone takes a break for a couple of weeks or so.
But once I got used to the relentless nature of festive football, it became something I really looked forward to, especially the big Boxing Day matches.
It is special, precisely because it is so unique to the football season here.
However, I can see where the likes of Arsene Wenger are coming from when they lament the toll taken on their players.
It certainly won’t help with injuries, while the impact on teams’ chances in European competition in the spring months is also a key issue.
Many of the teams on the continent will be re-charging their batteries, spending time with their families and getting away for a week or so for warm weather training. These precious weeks of respite, just when the mind and body of a footballer are crying out for a break, will be worth their weight in gold during those crucial phases towards the end of the season, especially for teams attempting to win trophies on multiple fronts.
And I can definitely sympathise with the argument that the English national team suffers the consequences of a season without a winter break when it comes to the major tournaments in the summer.
An intense schedule over the holiday period is not the only thing that is unique to football here. The famous team Christmas parties were an integral part of the bonding between players during the season and were always eagerly anticipated.
Even these took me a bit of getting used to though, as I had seriously underestimated the British love for all things fancy dress!
I remember one party at Spurs where the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand and Darren Anderton were in fantastic outfits, ranging from devils to priests and Roman gladiators!
I played it safe and went for a full-body bear costume!
But the on-pitch memories from this period are what I will cherish most. A British Christmas would simply not feel the same without football, and likewise the football season would not seem right without a packed set of festive fixtures.
So here’s wishing you all happy holidays and a great New Year. Enjoy the food, fancy dress….and footy!
Ramon Vega is a versatile high-flying executive with a comprehensive track record of driving commercial success in finance, property and football with national, international and World Cup experience as captain of the Swiss National Team in 1994. Proven experience in managing $billion funds in the asset management industry as well as a turnaround specialist who combines financial and business acumen, Ramon has a flair for inspiring others to exceed their own expectations. Follow him on Twitter here @Ramon_Vega71 (http://frompitchtoboardroom.com)
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