The small town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire has once again been swamped by visitors from all over the world who were eager to catch a glimpse of the chaos that is the traditional game of Shrovetide Football. However it poses the question of what actually is it and how important is it to this small town?
When is Shrovetide played?
Shrovetide Football is an ancient form of football that is believed to have been played in Ashbourne since 1667. It is played every year across Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
Who plays Shrovetide?
It is contested between frenzied teams of Up’ards and Down’ards – who are traditionally born in the North and South of the River Henmore respectively.
Following the conclusion of the annual event last Wednesday, the Up’ards won 1-0 at 8.50pm on Ash Wednesday taking them to two consecutive victories after the game was allowed to return following the COVID pandemic.
How is the game played?
But how is a score actually ‘goaled’? Ashbourne resident Tom Hilton said: “In its simplest form, the goals are three miles apart and the ball is ‘turned-up’ from the halfway point.”
After the ball is in play, swarms of local players attempt to grab the ball back towards their own goals in order to score. Mr Hilton, a teacher, said: “It’s one of the only games of football where instead of taking the ball to an opposition goal, you take it back to your own.”
Mr Hilton, who covered Shrovetide for five years for Ashbourne Radio, added: “The game is played from two o’clock through until 10 o’clock on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, and it’s a bit of a free-for-all.”
The streets of Ashbourne are often mobbed across these two days as players attempt to force the other team away from their own goals. However, once a team manages to get the ball to their goal, it must be tapped three times upon the plinth in order for it to be ‘goaled’.
This year, the only goal of the two-day festival was scored by Up’Ard Tom Allen, who handed his team a 1-0 victory.
What does Shrovetide Football mean to the town?
Amidst the festivities (and the all out chaos of the game) there’s another story behind that of Shrovetide and that’s the annual economic boost it gives to the town.
Mr Hilton added: “The pubs will do two months worth of trade over the course of those two days.
“And the town puts its party dress on and welcomes everyone from around the world to experience the madness. It’s the best two days of the year for this town.”
As the clean-up effort comes to an end in Ashbourne, the town will already be looking ahead to next years’ festivities and certainly Tom will be hoping for another Up’ards win!