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Up'Ards go ahead on first day of Shrovetide Football

Matt TaylorEast Midlands
News imageReuters Several young men in sportswear compete to grab the Shrovetide ballReuters
This year's competition began at 14:00 GMT on Tuesday

The Up'Ards have gone ahead on the first day of an ancient football game played in a town in Derbyshire.

Royal Shrovetide Football, which began in the 12th Century, sees two teams - the Up'Ards and Down'Ards - compete to move a ball to opposite ends of Ashbourne.

The historic event has taken place every year since at least 1667, often seeing a hundreds-strong scrum attempt to tap the ball three times at one of the goals at either end of the three-mile long pitch.

The Up'Ards went 1-0 up 30 minutes before the end of play after Craig Brown goaled the ball at about 21:30 GMT on Tuesday.

News imageReuters Shrovetide football being thrown into crowd from plinthReuters
Play began with the ball being "turned up" in the town centre

The game starts at 14:00 on both days with the ball "turned up" from a specially-constructed plinth in Shawcroft car park in the town centre.

If one of the teams manages to "goal" the ball before 18:00, a new ball will be released and play will restart, otherwise the game will end for the day.

Other traditions include the Shrovetide anthem, which was written in 1891 for a concert, being sung each day at a pre-game lunch.

News imageRKP Photography A group of men, some having climbed on a fence, wrestle over the ballRKP Photography
News imageReuters A man in a yellow top, who had hold of the ball, grimaces as a number of hands try to pry it out of his graspReuters
Players join the Up'Ards or Down'Ards depending on which side of the town's river they were born
Simply touching the ball can be the highlight of the two-day game for some players

Jason Rowland - Ashbourne born and bred - underlined the significance of the event.

"It's the biggest day of the year," he said. "It's bigger than anything else, it's bigger than Christmas.

"If you are born north of the river you are an Up'Ard and if you are south, you're a Down'Ard.

"You are not allowed in certain places, like the memorial gardens and the churchyard - if it goes in there it has to be thrown out again.

"But it's well governed and the lads listen to that."

Roads will be closed around the town from 13:30 to 22:00 on both Tuesday and Wednesday for as long as play continues.

Community directory, Discover Ashbourne, said the closures would be for as short a time as the game allowed but "could potentially last for hours".

Those attending the game are advised to use the park and ride facility at the Airfield Industrial Estate, and people are warned not to park anywhere in the "play zone" or they risk their car being damaged.

Discover Ashbourne's website added: "The game is dangerous and moves very fast. Please think very carefully whether it is wise to bring dogs, small children, pushchairs, wheelchairs etc.

"Follow instructions from marshals and other officials."

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