Sensational breaking news on the home front: my seven-year-old daughter has suddenly discovered the beautiful game.

Santa won’t be the only person making and checking lists over the coming weeks as parents across Ireland gear up for the present-buying, pre-Christmas frenzy.

Sales of Furby, Monopoly Millionaire, and learning tablets last year helped the British and Northern Ireland arms of family-owned Irish toy-seller Smyths record combined pre-tax profits of £2.7m (€3.2m).