Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football - 20th Feb 2007

If you can spot yourself in my video, leave a comment with the timecode where you spotted yourself.

For details of the 2012 game see my blog post :
http://derbyphotoscouk.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-ashbourne-shrovetide-footbal...

There is more footage in my Extra video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5OzqFPyUGg

All images and video footage was taken by me on 20th February 2007.
Ashbourne Football is one of the Oldest Shrovetide football games in England.
It was first recorded in 1682

The Game is played annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, and consists of two teams, one from anyone born to the North of the River Henmore, and one from people born South of the river, these are known as Up'ards and Down'ards.

The Goals are on the sites of Old mills, one at Clifton and one at Sturston, these are three miles apart.
A goal is scored by a player striking the mill wheel three times with the Ball.
The ball may be kicked, carried or thrown, but generally proceeds in a series of 'hugs' invisible to the spectator. The game can last for many hours, finishing well after dark.

The game starts at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when a specially prepared ball - larger than a football and filled with cork which weighs around 4lbs is thrown in by a visiting guest of honor.

My video should hopefully give you an idea of what its like.

Things to look out for...
3.45 The white ball flying about is NOT the actual ball, but funny to see it.
4.27 The guy falling over the wall,see his legs
5.14 The metal fence being crushed, near fire station.

The final part of my video is around 5.50pm in Sainsburys loading bay. A goal was scored at 8.45pm on this day.

For photos of this event, see my website :
http://www.derbyphotos.co.uk/events/2007/february/ashbournefootball

If you can spot yourself in my video, leave a comment or get in touch.

Tuesdays Game was won by the Up'ards, A goal being scored about 8.45pm.

Wednesdays Game was a draw as no one scored.

You may also like to watch my 2009 footage :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKDjFEtLV88

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Ashbourne
• Shrovetide
• Football
• Royal
• Game
• shrove
• Tuesday
• ball
• mob
• fight
• scrum
• street
• Derbyshire
• silly
• mad
• derbyphotos
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010

[bphutchins]

could someone please explain this chaos to me? do you carry the ball? i just don't see how this could work

[comedyhunter]

Well yes its very rare that you can actually carry it for any great length in the early mass of people.

[JAMESJW2006]

who won?

[comedyhunter]

The Up'ards Won in 2007 as they scored on Tuesday and no one scored on Wednesday.

[netties001]

My exgirlfriend is from there, I thought she was winding me up over the shrovetide thing - that's mint - should do something like that in Sheffield :-)

[comedyhunter]

Yes, until you have actually seen this game it just sounds daft. Having seen it for several years now I love it.

[Aidensapro]

7:14, my mum, aunt, uncle and cousin. xD

[thydes66]

Im there somewhere.. shouting 'COME ON YOU UP'ARDS!!!'

[lozzpot1999]

DOWNERDS RULE I CAN SEE MYSELF

[Insulinius]

4:28: How to better NOT climb a wall

[Insulinius]

4:28: My favourite way to climb over a wall...

[Bullets0fButter]

@Invisible162 that is false information. The person they found in the street was not killed due to Shrovetide. He had a heart attack. Nothing to do with the game, he was just playing earlier inthe day as he did every year for numerous years.

[octemberfury]

@Invisible162 is this true?

it seems like it would be really dangerous going through the river

wow, i'm replying to a two year old comment

[tooth8888]

2010 here we come.

victorious down'ards this year

[carpncoarsefishing1]

i liv in ashbourne

[thinlizzy7889]

i live near ashbourne....iam genrally there ever year!!! TRUST ME, IT AND COMODY.....ITS JUST FUNN LOL

[Th3m3n1nbl4ck]

I was there ;)

[Doctor189]

We won't lol Even though they cheated by throwing a fake ball into the crowd which by the way is AGAINST the rules.