Shrovetide football sells for £6,000 at auction

A football used in the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football match 53 years ago has been sold at auction for £6,000.

The ancient football match, 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 in Derbyshire.

Down'Ard Tim Lane, 66, who bought the ball, said he was determined to see it stay in the county.

He said he remembered watching the 1973 match the ball was turned up at when he was 13.

Lane said: "I didn't know who I was bidding against, so my fear was one of the other bidders could have come from anywhere - even abroad. I was prepared to have paid anything to keep the football in the county.

"We have to preserve the traditions of not just Ashbourne and Derbyshire, but also England. I couldn't see the ball leave the UK."

The yellow and gilt-painted ball was sold at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall on Tuesday, on the first day of this year's Shrovetide match, which ended in a 3-0 victory for the Up'Ards.

It is inscribed with the words "Thrown by Charles Harpur-Crewe and was not goaled", according to the auctioneers.

"I've never taken part in the contest, but I know the blood, sweat and tears it takes.

"It wouldn't have felt right for me to own a football that had been goaled, this way I am not taking anyone's glory," Lane added.

Auctioneer Charles Hanson said the ball was discovered during a "routine house visit" in north London, where he noticed the homeowner's son "kicking it about in the backyard".

"They had no idea what it was and the significance it has to the people of Derbyshire.

"The homeowner was amazed and delighted when I told her how much it had sold for," Hanson said.

Lane said he would now keep the ball on display at his Newton Solney home and plans to pass it on to his daughter.

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