Stopper Chris Weale talks about the Christmas fixtures as Town prepare for a Boxing Day clash with Tranmere
Shrewsbury Town goalkeeper Chris Weale insists he's a big fan of the festive football programme as the Meadow squad continue to prepare for the Boxing Day clash at home to Tranmere.
The players will be in for training on Christmas Day before chasing three points against Tranmere.
Weale said: "It's what you want to do as a kid, you want to play football over the Christmas period, it's great, and I don't think a winter break would work really because Christmas is a period that you do want to play football and fans want to come and watch football. I love the Christmas period.
"People will have had Christmas Day altogether so maybe it's a good opportunity to get out there and get a bit of fresh air and watch football on Boxing Day instead of being cooped up indoors again all day.
"We're very fortunate to have two home games and then Oldham away isn't too far away. We've been lucky with how the fixtures have come out and hopefully we can get a few points."
Weale stressed that training on Christmas Day simply came with the territory of being a professional footballer.
He said: "I've only ever had one Christmas Day off in my career so far and I was our training down the local park so it's part and parcel of your job and you just get on with it."
Weale will then head back home to see his family and enjoy the rest of Christmas Day including a traditional Christmas dinner.
"You have to be a bit careful and I wouldn't drink," he said. "But in terms of Christmas dinner, it's quite a nutritional balanced meal as long as you stay off the roasties a little bit."