'Traditional' kick-off time

[Glyn_Wigley]

Everybody says that 3pm is the traditional kick-off time...but this couldn't have been true in the days before floodlights - and certainly not during the depths of winter.

So does anybody know what time matches traditionally used to kick-off in the days before floodlights...?

[The Red Baron]

I seem to think matches kicked off around 2.15 in those days.

[wilts rover]

I dont believe there ever was a 'traditional' kick-off time. If you have a search on the historic newspaper site (link below, you have to pay to see full results but get summaries for free) matches used to kick-off at any old time. 1.00pm, 1.30, 2.00, 2.15, 2.45, 3.00, 3.15, 3.30 - evening games any time between 5.00 and 8.00.

I would guess that 3.00pm became the favourite time because it fits in between the end of shift work at 1.00pm or 2.00pm and the time it takes to get an evening sports paper out.

[Glyn_Wigley]

I think 3pm became favourite because of afternoon closing time in the pubs..!

[RedJ]

I wonder if it was 2pm. Rugby matches tend to kick off at that time, I believe, so I wonder if - with rugby not going pro until much later - this was the same with football.

[Crowle Rover]

Local league football still kicks off at 2 or 2.30 in December and January as I suppose by 4.30 it's almost dark

[idler]

The Rovers had a lot of 2.15 kick offs in the late 50s early 60s after Reading complained about our lights.
This was after they beat us 5 2 as well.     
I remember seeing a lad from school who only came to the odd game and he rolled up at half time for one cup game.