UK's Shrovetide soccer match is as crazy as ever
- 6 years ago
The annual Royal Shrovetide football game is said to be the world's oldest, largest, longest and angriest kickabout.
The game is played in Ashbourne in Derbyshire between the Up'ards, those born north of the River Henmore that divides the town, and the Down'ards, those born south of the river.
The game is played with a hand-painted, cork-filled ball.
The pitch is a no-man's land between two watermills, Sturston Mill and Clifton Mill, which serve as the goals at either end of the town about three miles apart.
Any number may play in this thinly refereed game, providing they can claim to be Up'ards or Down'ard's. The game can last for up eight hours and rarely is there a goal scored. This is not surprising considering the size of the pitch and the number of players involved.
Not many things have interrupted the Shrovetide game since 1891 and it continued through two world wars. Only foot-and-mouth disease has caused the cancellation of the game, in 1968 and 2002, although a limited version was played in 1968.
The game has little to do with the beautiful game, as we know it. It has few rules - murder and manslaughter are barred though.
It is a moving brawl that continues through the roads of the town, across fields and even along the bed of the local river. To those playing, trying to see where the ball is can be a challenge.
The ball was "turned up" - meaning thrown in at 2pm. Most of the action was around the narrow streets of Ashbourne. The boisterous play disturbs local traffic and local traders. Shopkeepers in preparation for the two-day match often board up their shop windows beforehand.
The game is played in Ashbourne in Derbyshire between the Up'ards, those born north of the River Henmore that divides the town, and the Down'ards, those born south of the river.
The game is played with a hand-painted, cork-filled ball.
The pitch is a no-man's land between two watermills, Sturston Mill and Clifton Mill, which serve as the goals at either end of the town about three miles apart.
Any number may play in this thinly refereed game, providing they can claim to be Up'ards or Down'ard's. The game can last for up eight hours and rarely is there a goal scored. This is not surprising considering the size of the pitch and the number of players involved.
Not many things have interrupted the Shrovetide game since 1891 and it continued through two world wars. Only foot-and-mouth disease has caused the cancellation of the game, in 1968 and 2002, although a limited version was played in 1968.
The game has little to do with the beautiful game, as we know it. It has few rules - murder and manslaughter are barred though.
It is a moving brawl that continues through the roads of the town, across fields and even along the bed of the local river. To those playing, trying to see where the ball is can be a challenge.
The ball was "turned up" - meaning thrown in at 2pm. Most of the action was around the narrow streets of Ashbourne. The boisterous play disturbs local traffic and local traders. Shopkeepers in preparation for the two-day match often board up their shop windows beforehand.