All the non league football matches happening in and around Newcastle this festive period, including Boxing Day fixtures

Gateshead FC host Blyth Spartans on Boxing Day. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Seeing family, carolling and a huge dinner on December 25 are a few of the best festive traditions, but when the big day passes it’s football fans’ turn to bring the festive traditions to the streets. The English footballing calendar prioritises a busy festive season of football and this year is no different.

Unfortunately, Boxing Day football isn’t favoured this year thanks to December 26 falling on a Sunday but the National League are still keeping to the traditional format with Gateshead hosting Blyth Spartans in the National League North. Kick off at the Gateshead International Stadium is at 3pm and tickets are available to book online.

Gateshead then make the short trip to Darlington on December 28 before travelling north for the return fixture at Blyth on January 2.

The Heed go into the Christmas period in good form with a chance to go top of the table in the New Year. Having won each of their last six league matches, they sit in third place in the National League North with two games in hand over Brackley Town and Fylde, who sit in first and second place respectively.

The Northern Premier League aren’t providing any Boxing Day action this year, but there are a series of fixtures across the two divisions on December 27.

In the fourth tier of non-league football there is a local derby as Hebburn Town host Gateshead’s Dunston UTS in a 1:00pm kick off to the south of the Tyne, while New Year's Day sees South Shields play Scarborough Athletic at Mariners Park in the Premier Division.

Elsewhere on January 1, Dunston UTS welcome Marske United to Gateshead.

Heading further down the pyramid, the Northern League offer match-going fans two games over two days on North Tyneside.

Boxing Day sees Newcastle Benfield welcome West Allotment Celtic to their Walkergate ground for a 12:00pm kick off and there’s a North Tyneside derby on December 27 when Whitley Bay make the short trip to North Shields for an early 11:00am kick off.

The league then sees no fixtures between December 27 and January 4.