Ashbourne - Derbyshire Famous For the Royal Shrovetide Football Match
Ashbourne - Derbyshire remains a small market town whose appearance has not changed much since the 18th century.
The tradition of playing The Royal Shrovetide Football Match in Ashbourne, has lasted over 1000 years.
The origins of the game are unknown, as a fire in the 1890s destroyed the earliest records.
A special ball is required for this match.
This small town combines medieval street patterns and historic buildings with high quality shops.
It lays on the south edge of the Peak District in a lovely green valley.
Church Street, elegant and wide, remains the finest street of Georgian buildings in Derbyshire.
The match has been called 'Royal' since 1928 when the Prince of Wales at that time came to play.
He later became King Edward VIII.
In 2003, Prince Charles attended the match to toss out the first ball to start the game.
The Royal Shrovetide Football Match is a moving brawl that matches one-half of the town against the other.
The town and the surrounding countryside are the field and the goals are three miles apart.
Several thousand players compete in this two-day event, which is held each year on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
The ball is much larger than a standard football.
Portuguese cork fills the special game ball that is hand-painted by local artisans.
The design relates to the dignitary who will be starting the game on the first day.
The cork makes it possible for the game ball to float as the match is played across the countryside and through rivers.
Once a goal is made, the ball gets painted with the name of the scorer and in a design that he requests.
They get to keep that ball.
If no goal is made, the ball is repainted in the original design for the dignitary who threw it out to start the game.
That ball is given to them as a souvenir.
During this event, previous game balls stay on display in local pubs for public viewing.
Ashbourne - Derbyshire is a picturesque English town that is relatively quiet most the year.
The annual Football Match attracts hundreds of visitors each year to participate in this event.
Once the match is over, there is a lot to see and explore in this lovely English market town.
The tradition of playing The Royal Shrovetide Football Match in Ashbourne, has lasted over 1000 years.
The origins of the game are unknown, as a fire in the 1890s destroyed the earliest records.
A special ball is required for this match.
This small town combines medieval street patterns and historic buildings with high quality shops.
It lays on the south edge of the Peak District in a lovely green valley.
Church Street, elegant and wide, remains the finest street of Georgian buildings in Derbyshire.
The match has been called 'Royal' since 1928 when the Prince of Wales at that time came to play.
He later became King Edward VIII.
In 2003, Prince Charles attended the match to toss out the first ball to start the game.
The Royal Shrovetide Football Match is a moving brawl that matches one-half of the town against the other.
The town and the surrounding countryside are the field and the goals are three miles apart.
Several thousand players compete in this two-day event, which is held each year on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
The ball is much larger than a standard football.
Portuguese cork fills the special game ball that is hand-painted by local artisans.
The design relates to the dignitary who will be starting the game on the first day.
The cork makes it possible for the game ball to float as the match is played across the countryside and through rivers.
Once a goal is made, the ball gets painted with the name of the scorer and in a design that he requests.
They get to keep that ball.
If no goal is made, the ball is repainted in the original design for the dignitary who threw it out to start the game.
That ball is given to them as a souvenir.
During this event, previous game balls stay on display in local pubs for public viewing.
Ashbourne - Derbyshire is a picturesque English town that is relatively quiet most the year.
The annual Football Match attracts hundreds of visitors each year to participate in this event.
Once the match is over, there is a lot to see and explore in this lovely English market town.