Royal Shrovetide Football is a vast game of ‘football’ from 1667, played around the town of Ashbourne over roughly two 8-hour periods which takes place across 2 days each year in February, Shove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Because the game is played across the whole town, during the two day period and the run up you will see shops and businesses boarding up their windows and doors in order to protect them from damage. The game received its Royal title when Edward VIII (Prince of Wales) opened the game in 1928. Royal Shrovetide is such an integral part of the community that it was played during WW1 by soldiers in France who originated from Ashbourne.

Rules

Rules?
There aren't many rules surrounding Shrovetide however there are several off-limit places such as churchyards, cemeteries, and places of worship. Private property must also be respected. There are however some interesting 'rules' such as one of the earliest, 'no murder' and one of the most recent 'the ball must not be carried in a motorised vehicle'. An important thing to note is that players do have to follow the rules of medical personnel, marshals & police, as well as respecting the town and its residents.

How is the game played?

At 2pm on both Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, the ball is ’tuned up’ on Shaw Croft car park in to the ‘hug’. A respected local is chosen each year to be the ’turner up’ however in the past there have been a few famous ones including King Charles and the Duke of Devonshire. After being turned up, the aim of the game is for players to move the ball to their goal, however despite its name of football the ball is rarely touched by feet and is usually moved by being thrown. The match carries on until 10pm each day, unless a goal is scored after 5pm in which the game ends for the day. If a goal gets scored before 5pm, a new ball is ’turned up’ and a new game is started.

Teams are based on which side of the Henmore Brook you were born. Born South of the brook = Down'ards, born north of the brook = Up’ards. Down'ards try to goal the ball at the old Clifton Mill and Up’ards try to goal at Sturston Mill. In order for the ball to be goaled, a player has to hit the ball against their millstone 3 times. The scorer often become a local celebrity, and they are usually elected on route to the goal (usually someone who lives in Ashbourne).

The Ball

The ball used for the game is a specially prepared and hand sewn leather ball filled with cork chippings so it can float in the river. It is larger than a football, weighing around 4lb. The person chosen to ’turn up’ chooses the design which is hand painted and if the ball is goaled it becomes the possession of the person who goaled it.

Anthem

The game has its own anthem which was a song written in 1891 for a concert that raised funds to pay fines for playing the game in the street. Nowadays it is sung both days at the pre-game lunch at the town leisure centre.

Theres a town still plays this glorious game
Tho'tis but a little spot.
And year by year the contests fought.
From the field that's called Shaw Croft.
Then friend meets friend in friendly strife The leather for to gain,
'And they play the game right manfully,
In snow, sunshine, or rain.
'Tis a glorious game, deny it who can.
That tries the pluck of an Englishman.
For the loyal game shall ever be
No matter when or where,
And treat that game as ought but the free,
Is more than the boldest dare.
Though the up's and down's of its chequered life May the ball still ever roll,
Until by fair and gallant strife
We've reached the treasur'd goal.