For photographs from previous Ashbourne Shrovetide Football games that I have attended, please use the following links. 2007 Photos, 2006 Photos, 2005 Photos, 2004 Photos.
For other events in Derbyshire over the years use my Derbyshire Events index.
Ashbourne is about 16 miles from Derby and is very straight forward to reach via the A52. The journey takes 20 minutes by car. If you plan to visit on one of these two days then its best not to park in the town centre otherwise you may find your car gets damaged. Also despite the fact that the game starts in Shawcroft carpark, it is not possible nor desirable to park in it on one of these days for obvious reasons!
Ashbourne in Derbyshire is host to one of the Oldest Shrovetide football games in England.
It was first recorded in 1682, though thought to date back to the 12th Century ,various attempts were made to suppress it over the years.
It has continued unabated ever since, and by 1928 it had become so respectable that the then Prince of Wales was invited to start the game. From that year on it was known as the Royal Shrovetide Football game. The Game is played annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, and consists of two teams, one from anyone born to the North of the River Henmore, and one from people born South of the river, these are known as Up'ards and Down'ards.
The Goals are on the sites of Old mills, one at Clifton and one at Sturston, these are three miles apart.
A goal is scored by a player striking the mill wheel three times with the Ball.
The ball may be kicked, carried or thrown, but generally proceeds in a series of 'hugs' invisible to the spectator.
The game can last for many hours, finishing well after dark.
The game starts at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when a specially prepared ball - larger than a football and filled with cork which weighs around 4lbs is thrown in by a visiting guest of honor. The balls used for the Shrovetide games are made by Ashbourne man John Harrison.
The hand sewn leather balls are filled with cork chippings.
The balls are a work of art and take a few weeks to paint.
If the balls are goaled, then it will become the proud possession of the person who has goaled it. If no-one goals it, then the person that turned-up the ball gets to take it home.
The game starts in the Shawcroft Carpark (back of Somerfield supermarket).
The ball for Wednesdays game was turned-up by The Mayor of Ashbourne, Tony Millward. That game was a draw as no one had scored by 10pm which meant he could take the ball home with him
For an exact Map location of the start of the game click HERE.
Use the Zoom controls to look around.
Andy's Better detailed map locations :
For an exact location of the place where the ball is "turned up" click HERE to see it on Google maps.
If you have the GoogleEarth application installed then click HERE to see the exact location marked.
