SUPPORTERS are campaigning to prevent football fixtures from being televised on Christmas Eve - with AFC Bournemouth facing a long festive trip to Manchester City.

Matches are currently scheduled for Saturday December 23, however the televised games for December and January are due to be announced by the Premier League next Thursday (October 12).

The only ever Premier League game to take place on Christmas Eve was in 1995 when Leeds United hosted Manchester United.

Speculation of Liverpool's game at Arsenal being selected this year on Christmas Eve has grabbed attention, with Liverpool Supporters' Trust, fan group Spion Kop and other organisations releasing a statement protesting any move.

Local group Cherries Trust have joined the campaign to prevent any games being moved for television.

Chairman of Cherries Trust, Tony Maycock, who is attending a supporters' group meeting with Premier League officials on Tuesday, said no games should be played on Christmas Eve.

"The Premier League haven't had a game on that date for 22 years," he said.

"When Christmas Eve has fallen on a Saturday in the past the Premier League haven't put fixtures on.

"It affects people more than just fans themselves.

"Players have families and staff behind the scenes are required to make the game happen, with stewards, policing and people who work to clear up afterwards.

"Then there is the knock on with how are people getting home after the game."

The last train journey back to Bournemouth on Christmas Eve leaves Manchester Piccadilly at 4.35pm, arriving in Dorset via three trains, a bus and a trip on the London Underground.

If chosen as an early kick-off on the Sunday, Cherries fans would face a rushed trip across Manchester from the Etihad to catch the last train.

A later kick-off could force supporters to drive with no flights from Manchester to the south coast in the evening.

There are 17 supporters' groups currently lobbying to prevent matches from being televised on Christmas Eve.

Last year, there was a seven day gap between fixtures over the Christmas period.

After the Merseyside derby on Monday December 19, Premier League action did not return until Boxing Day.

When Christmas Eve last fell on a Sunday in 2006, a full set of fixtures were played on Saturday December 23.

The campaigning groups will hope for a similar outcome after their voicing their concerns to the Premier League.