“Early doors”
/ˈɜːrli dɔːrz/
phrase · soccer
Definition
The opening stages of a game, usually the first ten or fifteen minutes. A goal early doors is one that lands before anyone has settled into their seat, or finished their first pint.
Origin
Borrowed from British theaters and pubs, where "early doors" meant the cheap first admission before the main crowd turned up. Commentators lifted it to describe the opening passage of a match.
Used in a sentence
"Arsenal scored early doors and then spent eighty minutes protecting a one-goal lead. Great if you've got the stomach for it. I did not."
Never sound lost at the pub again
Twice-weekly soccer sense, free forever.