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A thousand people scrambling for the ball? The Royal Shrovetide Football match in England kicks off in March

Published: 2026-09-25 👁 101 views

Last updated 2026-09-25 — What kind of football game can feature the thrilling spectacle of “a thousand people scrambling for the ball”? The Royal Shrovetide Football match in the English town of Ashbourne...

What kind of football game can feature the thrilling spectacle of “a thousand people scrambling for the ball”? The Royal Shrovetide Football is an ancient tradition in the English town of Ashbourne that draws large crowds every year eager to track the ball’s location. Local shops even board up their windows and doors to avoid damage. This year’s event will take place on March 8–9, 2011, and the 16-hour-long match is guaranteed to be unforgettable.

Colorful Royal Shrovetide Football. (Image courtesy / VisitBritain)

The Royal Shrovetide Football match dates back to the Elizabethan era, with the earliest known reference found in a poem by Charles Cotton in 1683. In 1928, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, also officiated a grand opening ceremony for the game, and the current Prince Charles performed the kickoff in 2003.

Many English towns have traditional and unique festivals. (Image courtesy / VisitBritain)

The Royal Shrovetide Football match is played in two halves, each lasting 8 hours, with the two goals located 5 kilometers apart and very few rules. The competing teams are the Up’ards, representing the northern side of the River Henmore, and the Down’ards, representing the southern side. Players can kick, carry, or throw the ball during gameplay, but most of the action resembles a rugby-style scramble for the ball. The specially made leather ball, which is uniquely colored, is “blessed” at 2 pm in the town center. If a goal is scored before 6 pm, the ball is swapped out and the game restarts; if a goal is scored after 6 pm, the match ends—otherwise, play continues until 10 pm.