04-03-2025
Royal Shrovetide Football: Ancient game to return to Ashbourne
A traditional ball game that dates back to the 12th Century is set to take over a town centre in Derbyshire once Royal Shrovetide Football has taken place throughout Ashbourne every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday since at least game will see thousands of players - in teams called the Up'Ards and Down'Ards - compete to move the ball - to opposite ends of the Dave Bott and Brian Pegg have been given the honour of "turning the ball up" to get the game under way on each day.
This year the ongoing Ashbourne Reborn project - a £15.2m regeneration of the town centre - will clash with the occasion after work started in February.
In order for the game to take place, public realm works in Dig Street and Buxton Hill stopped on Friday to make way for thousands of players to descend on the game can take place throughout the town, including key areas of the scheme such as Shrovetide Walk, connecting Shawcroft and Dig Street, as well as the areas surrounding St John Street, Millennium Square and the Market game will start at 14:00 GMT, lasting until 22:00 in the evening on both one of the teams manages to "goal a ball" before 18:00, a new ball will be released and play will restart, otherwise the game will end for the year, the game ended with a victory to the Up'Ards after winning 2-0 over the two days.
