The 2 sides went into the sport struggling on the incorrect finish of Division One, with Blackburn in twentieth place and solely exterior the relegation zone on purpose common, and Blackpool just one level and two locations higher off.

The house facet had received simply one in every of their earlier eight league matches whereas Rovers’ type had improved with two wins from three earlier than the journey to Bloomfield Street.

The Tangerines included future England World Cup winner Alan Ball of their facet whereas Blackburn had Mike England, a Wales worldwide defender who would go on to make nearly 400 appearances for Tottenham and handle his nation for eight years.

A crowd of 20,851 noticed Neil Turner give Blackpool the lead just for George Jones to equalise earlier than half-time.

The house facet took management within the second interval, with objectives from Bobby Waddell and high scorer Ray Charnley, with Ball including a fourth.

England then wrote himself into the historical past books by getting Blackburn’s second of the afternoon – and the ultimate purpose to be scored within the Soccer League in England on Christmas Day.

The 2 sides have been as soon as once more as a result of play the return fixture at Ewood Park on Boxing Day but it surely was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Blackpool ultimately pulled themselves away from bother to complete in thirteenth place however Rovers had a disastrous run within the new 12 months, profitable solely three of their remaining 20 matches to drop to the underside of the division and undergo relegation to the second tier.

That match in 1965 was the final we might hear of soccer on Christmas Day till 1983, when Brentford tried to play their Third Division match with Wimbledon at 11am.

“I see it as an amazing alternative for the household to take pleasure in a fresh-air Christmas morning,” stated Brentford chairman Martin Lange on the time.

Supporters didn’t agree and, with many complaining, the sport was introduced ahead to Christmas Eve with promotion-bound Wimbledon profitable 4-3.