Early doors

Origin of: Early doors

Early doors

Early on, near the start, especially of a sporting contest, dates from the late 19th century and derives from the practice of allowing people into theatres and music halls well before the start, to allow them to choose the best position among the cheaper seats. This practice died out in 1920s but the expression has been retained mainly in sporting contexts, especially football commentaries. It was a phrase particularly associated with Ron Atkinson but he did not coin it, as some suggest.