Now this is a football game

[EnglishAdam]

Ashbourne, England.

The annual two-day Ashbourne Shrovetide Football game dates from medieval times and sees 'Up'ards - those born north of the Henmore Brook - battle it out against the Down'ards, born on the south side.

Shops in the town board up their windows and close for Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday as the streets become a huge playing field, three miles long and two miles wide.

The 'playing field' runs between a goal in the village of Sturston and another in Clifton. Players 'hug' the ball in a scrum which tries to move it forwards towards the goal.

Goals used to be the water mills at either end of the 'pitch' but they were demolished and in their place are two stone plinths. To 'goal' the ball, it must be struck three times against the stone.

So, got that? That's the rules. 3 mile by 2 mile field. 48 hours playing time. Weapons frowned upon but apart from that :shrug:

Lets play ball

It's in there somewhere

Here we go

Oof :kaboom:

Run lads

Keep going

Play on

Mind those windows

Would this work over there? oke:

 

[astrodudepsu]

That's awesome.

I imagine it's a great way for hooligans of all varities to let loose and have some fun.

 

[EnglishAdam]

Ha, yes it is but this tradition has mostly died out now.
In the "olden days", there would often be these types of games between villages but naturally, things would get out of hand rather rapidy.
Close to the place where I live, there's a piece of gound called Blood Hill which was the site of a pitched battle between 2 local villages playing the game.

 

[SLVRBLT]

Thats crazy

 

[blackvenom77]

Man I wish we had something like that here. There probably would be knife and gun fights though.

Badass none the less! :rockon: