Inigo Calderon's love affair with English football was cemented by a trip to London at this time of year.

And it did not do his future marriage plans any harm either, as it turned out.

Players from across the globe are preparing for a traditional time of the football year in this country which this season will be more demanding than ever for some.

But, for those who have played for Albion and then gone back home, it appears the experience of playing at Christmas and New Year is something they will never forget.

For right-back Calderon, it all started well before he signed for Albion, just after Christmas in the 2004-05 season when he was playing for Alicante.

He recalled: “My girlfriend, now my wife, came on a surprise trip to spend Christmas with me.

“We went to London. We celebrated New Year’s Eve and on January 1 we went to the Valley.”

Calde’s agent also represented Manuel Almunia, the Arsenal goalkeeper at the time, and secured tickets in the Jimmy Seed Stand.

That is the away end, built back in the early 1980s, which Albion fans have packed a few times down the years.

“We were there with all the fans. Arsenal won something like 5-2 (actually 3-1) and it was really good.

“My now wife didn’t care for it too much at the time! But it was fun, a good trip.

“I remember going to watch Charlton play Southampton as well just before I signed for Brighton.

“Then I scored my first goal there and the following season I scored there again.

“So The Valley has always been a stadium that was linked with me, a special stadium.

“I already liked English football.

“When I was a kid we had a TV channel you needed a special box to receive and we could watch the Premiership games so for me it was the perfect plan to go to London.

“I always wanted to go there anyway and then go to a Premiership game.

“I also went to Arsenal against Blackpool.

“It’s actually quite classic if you’re a football person in Spain to try and get to a game on Boxing Day because we stop here.

“We have ten days when we don’t train.”

That was some Arsenal team Calderon saw from the away end.

Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, Cesc Fabregas, two-goal Freddie Ljungberg, Robin Van Persie, Sol Campbell.

"Kishishev was playing for Charlton, who I later played with for Brighton."

As he returned for a midweek League One game at The Valley five years later, he peered out of the window of Albion's team coach and tried to spot the tube station from which he had emerged and the pavements he had walked on the way to that magical first Prem experience as a fan.

He says he loved the intense Christmas period. That tends to be the response from foreign players now retired who have lived through it.

Is it fair to say his boss Gus Poyet was less keen?

“Probably, yes!” Calderon said with a laugh.

“To be fair it’s good for the players, you like it, but as a manager you realise how dangerous it is for the players and getting injured.

“It’s hard to find the balance.

“I heard something from Gus which is quite good.

“Keep Boxing Day because it’s a special day and after have a small gap or maybe in January when the weather is not the best.

“English teams arrive quite tired at the end of the season.

“But then you look at Chelsea last season and maybe that isn’t so true now.”

Former Albion defender Uwe Huenemeier now follows from Germany.

His Paderborn side are well placed in the second tier but have no game now until mid-January.

He said: “I really like watching English football on Boxing Day and around Christmas and New Year.

“But, as a professional footballer, I have to admit there is definitely a game too much in this period.

“Considering the amount of matches and the time for recovery, it’s more about the tradition and the money that comes with the exclusive coverage of English football all over the world at that time.

“On the other hand, it’s pretty much the only chance for us to come over to watch some live football in England, because of our short winter break.

“If I could choose, I would definitely prefer our way with a short break over Christmas.

“It gives you extra time to recharge and, on top of that, you can enjoy Christmas with your family without being on the road or having any kind of job duties during this special time of the year.”

Italy had a crack at Boxing Day football a few years ago but found it did not appeal to TV audiences or match-going spectators.

“I don’t know why, probably too cold!” said former striker Lorenzo Pinamonte, whose two old League Two clubs – Albion and Brentford – clash in the Premier League this Boxing Day.

“I remember like yesterday my Christmas Day in Brighton.

“The next day we were going to play the game."

Pinamonte managed to find a home from home back in 1999.

“I have to thank all my life this gentleman, as well as my great friend, Angelo Cavallo, the owner at the pizzeria Topolino.

“He treated me like I was his son from the first day he met me, made me feel at home.”

So how much do you adapt to the local customs and how much do you celebrate as at home?

In Spain, both Christmas and Epiphany (Reyes Magos) are important.

One of Albion’s Spanish players attempted to go English and only give presents at Christmas.

But his children were ahead of the game and it all ended up in a hasty trip to a well known toy shop on the former site of the Goldstone Ground as Reyes Magos arrived.

Calderon flung himself in wholeheartedly by going for turkey with all the trimmings.

He said: “I remember preparing the turkey the day before and it was quite fun.

“It wasn’t too bad. I had to ask a few people what to do.

“It was English style with everything, even sprouts.

“It was the first time I did it - and also the last time.

“In Spain you don’t do that but it was fun.

“Normally we would have plenty of food. Seafood, everything basically. Too much!

“Dinner on the 24th at night, a big lunch on the 25th.

“You put on two or three kilos in two days - crazy.”

Huenemeier said: “I adapted my Christmas a little to the English style with a totally coloured Christmas tree, which is uncommon in Germany.

"Apart from that, we celebrated Christmas on the 24th with some more German dishes and a glass of wine.

“I know that German Christmas markets are becoming more and more popular in England, which is a good adaption - especially the mulled wine!”

Spanish midfielder David Lopez said: “Training and playing was special because it’s holiday time and you get kids coming to see us and they are so excited.

“Playing all those games was no problem. I remember playing right-back at Ipswich on New Year’s Day and we won 3-0.

“It was the first time I’d spent New Year's Eve like that, in the team hotel with Andrea Orlandi. It was a bit different but we had a bit of a laugh!"

Their compatriot Vicente and his wife were joined by their parents at their spacious Hove home and enjoyed "different and new Christmases - but I enjoyed how it was because they are holidays and kids go to watch matches."

French midfielder David Martot reflected on "good memories of something that was new and unknown to me".

Martot's own experience included the infamous 3-0 Boxing Day defeat at Millwall, which was hardly a time of peace and goodwill as George O'Callaghan and Bas Savage effectively secured their exits from the club.

Just part of festive folklore.

They will all be watching and enjoying the action this Christmas.

From a safe distance and with feet up.