'I'm not a Premier League star - but Christmas is no different in non-league'
For Premier League footballers, even Christmas Day doesn't provide any let up from their hectic schedule's that will dominate the festive period for fans and television screens across the country.
Before they can tuck into any turkey, top-flight stars often have to spend at least part of the day training, especially if they have a game on Boxing Day. This year, there are five Premier League matches scheduled on December 26, with Manchester United and Liverpool among those in action.
Despite not playing again until December 27, Mauricio Pochettino has also ordered his Chelsea stars to train on Christmas Day following their 2-1 defeat at Wolves. The Blues face Crystal Palace in their next Premier League encounter and the Argentine admitted his players "cannot stop".
But while the demands are part and parcel of life as an elite athlete, what is Christmas Day like for those donning their boots down in non-league?
Loughborough Dynamo captain Rob Norris, 36, has clocked over 500 non-league appearances in his career and he will certainly not be taking it too far on Christmas Day. Speaking to Mirror Football, the midfielder opened up on what his celebrations will look like and how he is set to enjoy the festivities. Norris said: "Christmas is a difficult one, there is a lot of football in the professional and non-league game.
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Rob Norris (Loughborough Dynamo FC)"We've got matches on Boxing Day and New Year's Day and it's a hard one to try and juggle. We like to spend time with our families and it’s important to do that. The football is important but family time is also crucial at Christmas."
Loughborough play in the eighth-tier of English football, and like the vast majority of non-league clubs below National League North and South, will not train on December 25. Even though they are not training, the Loughborough players will not be able to completely let their hair down.
"I’ll have a Christmas Day with the family, a Christmas dinner and I think most lads in non-league will still have one. I have a glass of wine with dinner, but not much more than that. If we didn’t have a match on Boxing Day, we’d probably have a few more beers, but I try and take it a bit more steadier than I would normally."
Norris added: "It's always in the back of your mind. You might have a few chocolates but you’re aware you have a game the next day and you’re not going to go as hard on the food and drink as you would do if you didn’t have a game. But it’s a difficult one for non-league footballers because sometimes we probably wish there wasn’t a game on Boxing Day so we can enjoy it a little bit more.
"But we understand for the clubs it’s important and they tend to get good crowds. The fans enjoy the Boxing Day games which is great. Sometimes it’s a bit of a catch 22 but when you’ve been doing it for as long as I have you become accustomed to it."
Christmas Day will look pretty similar for Loughborough goalkeeper Lewis King, who is set to spent the festivities with his family ahead of a massive game against fellow Leicestershire side Anstey Nomads on Boxing Day. King, 30, has played for a plethora of clubs in non-league, including Boston United, Mickleover and Matlock.
"For me, it's quite a normal family day," King said. "In non-league, it's a little bit different from when I was younger and a little bit more professional. Back as a pro, you would probably go out for a run and whatnot, but it's a little bit less strict than that.
Loughborough Dynamo goalkeeper Lewis King (Loughborough Dynamo)"It's almost in effect like a Friday before a game, so it's kind of what you would normally do on a normal Friday minus the work really. My Christmas Day is waking up early with the kids, go around and see family. Then for Christmas dinner, I'm cooking this year myself.
"Luckily I don't drink, so I don’t have any of the issues where you're asked 'when do you stop drinking or do you have a glass of wine'. It’s a pretty normal standard Christmas for me."
"Anyone who knows me, knows I like chocolate anyway," King added. "But I'm getting on now, have probably played between 350 and 400 games, so it’s kind of one of things where the older you get, the mental side of the game gets more prominent and you feel that whatever you do the day before or the morning of the game, as soon as you get out onto the pitch for the warm up, you switch on and focus."
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Loughborough are currently on a 14-match unbeaten run in the Northern Premier League Midlands, dating back to August and are sitting in fourth, just four points behind top spot with two games in hand. Dynamo earned a 2-1 win over Coleshill on Saturday and now travel to third-place Anstey on Boxing Day, with both sides firmly in the battle for promotion, before a clash with local rivals Shepshed on New Year's Day.
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