It is one of the most enduring Christmas songs of all time, but the creation of Wham!'s Last Christmas has a surprising sporting connection. New details have emerged about the precise football match that was playing on television when a young George Michael was struck by the song's now-famous melody.
The Sunday Afternoon That Sparked a Classic
According to bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, the pair were killing time on a Sunday in early 1984 at the Michael family home. The Big Match, the only live football on TV in that era, was on in the background. "Neither of us were really watching it," Ridgeley later recalled. George Michael's attention, however, was clearly elsewhere.
Suddenly inspired, Michael jumped up and ran to his childhood bedroom, where he had a four-track tape recorder. Not long after, he returned downstairs, insisting Ridgeley listen to what he had created. The result was the initial demo of a song that would become a festive staple for generations.
Michael confirmed he wrote the song in February 1984. Given Ridgeley's account of watching a live match, historical fixture lists point to one specific game. The only live Sunday fixture that month was on 12 February 1984, broadcast on ITV with a 2.35pm kick-off: Luton Town versus Manchester United in the old First Division.
United romped to a 5-0 victory, with Bryan Robson and Norman Whiteside among the scorers. Perhaps the goalless first 36 minutes provided the perfect creative lull for a musical genius. Ironically, the song was kept off the Christmas number one spot that year by Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?, finally claiming the top position in 2023.
Christmas League Leaders and European Glory
With Arsenal and Manchester City vying for the Premier League summit this Christmas, a question arises: how often does being top at Christmas translate to European success? An analysis of the 70 European Cup and Champions League winners since 1955 reveals a fascinating split.
Of those champions, 30 were top of their domestic league on Christmas Day. The English clubs on this list are Manchester United in 1967-68 and Liverpool on three occasions: 1980-81, 1983-84, and 2018-19. Notably, in two of those Liverpool triumphs, they did not go on to win the domestic title, with Aston Villa and Manchester City respectively claiming that honour.
The flip side is perhaps more intriguing: teams who overcame poor domestic form to conquer Europe. The great Bayern Munich side of the mid-1970s was a staggering 14th in the Bundesliga at Christmas in 1974-75, eventually finishing 10th, yet they still won the European Cup. Similarly, Nottingham Forest were 13th on Christmas Day 1979 before retaining the European Cup, and Aston Villa were 17th in December 1981 before their famous European triumph in 1982.
Festive Footballing Traditions and Trivia
The tradition of playing matches on Christmas Day itself has long faded in British football. The last full set of Scottish fixtures on 25 December was in 1971, featuring a Celtic victory over Hearts. In England, the final Christmas Day games were played in 1959, with Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City both recording home wins.
As for festive gifts among teammates, the spirit of giving can sometimes have an edge. In 1998, Newcastle United's squad engaged in a notorious secret Santa. Italian defender Alessandro Pistone received a sheep's heart, interpreted as a comment on his perceived lack of commitment. Teammate Temuri Ketsbaia, who is bald, was gifted a hairbrush, and Duncan Ferguson—who had served a prison sentence—was given a prison uniform.
This collection of festive football knowledge, from iconic pop culture moments to statistical curiosities and long-lost traditions, highlights the game's deep and often unexpected connections to the holiday season.
