Shrovetide Football Worlds oldest longest and angriest football game

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The annual Royal Shrovetide football game is said to be the world's oldest, largest, longest, and perhaps angriest street football game. • The game is played between the 'Up'ards', those born north of the River Henmore, the river the that divides the town, and the 'Down'ards', those born south of the river. • It 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 of players may take part in this very thinly refereed game, providing they can claim to be Up'ards or Down'ard's. • The game most years lasts for many hours, often in darkness, and seldom is there a goal scored. It is hardly surprising considering the size of the pitch and the number of players involved. • 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 real challenge. • This year the ball was ‘turned up’ by local busineesman John Tomlinson. Most of the action was around the narrow streets of Ashbourne and in the local rivers. The boisterous play often disturbs local traffic and local traders, so shopkeepers in preparation for the two-day match board up their shop windows for protection. • The majority of the play is a series of rugby-type scrimmages known as Hugs . Very occasionally the ball does break free, and onlookers who number in their thousands can finally see some action. • Tuesday's match after nearly eight hours of 'play' saw the Up’Ards managed to score just before 10pm (local time) with a goal from local lad Will Nash. Mr Nash is allowed to keep the ball and drink as much ale as he can consume in the local pub. • Not many events have interrupted the Shrovetide game since 1891 and it even continued through two world wars. The coronavirus pandemic and the foot-and-mouth disease are the only times the game has not be played. • The two-day game continues on Wednesday as The Down'ards will be looking to get revenge for Tuesday's defeat. • Please subscribe, like the video and share wherever you can! • *DO NOT copy and re-upload any part of this video anywhere otherwise copyright strikes will be made! You do not have my permission* • To make sure you don't miss any of my videos • on this and my other channels please : • Subscribe to this channel : http://bit.ly/BeanyNewsSub • Follow me on Twitter : / beanymannews • Like me on Facebook : / beanymannews • For business enquiries, sponsorships, ads, please contact [email protected]

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