| Where: | Formerly Waltham Cross, Herts at the Playing Fields near the Railway Station |
| When: | Formerly 26th December |
| Time: | Formerly 12 noon |
For over 100 years, every Boxing Day at Waltham Cross featured an unusual football match. The teams of Bakers and Sweeps in appropriate costumes battled it out on the playing fields, with numerous balls of varying size up to absolute giants which had to be rolled around the pitch and might be ceremonially carried into play on a stretcher. The players were armed with flour or soot depending on their allegiance, and misdemeanours during play could be punished with a session in the on-pitch stocks. It was a local fundraiser for charity and an alternative way to work off the calories from Christmas lunch!
Helpful Hints
The event has sadly lapsed in recent years due to lack of players. If it gets revoked please let me know.
Anyone over 18 could join in – but be aware that you’d end up covered in flour and soot as well as mud!
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I witnessed this crazy football match one year (20 or so years ago) whilst staying with my in-laws. It followed the Bakers & Sweeps going around the housing estates of WX throwing bags at flour & soot each other (and I guess anybody who got in their way LOL) before a bonkers game of footie. So pleased it continues to this day and had no idea it dates back 100 years.
Congratulations to all involved in keeping this tradition going.
Thanks for sharing- but don’t go along this year as they’re taking a break! Hopefully it’ll return on Boxing Day 2023- it’s high on my Boxing Day “to-do” list…
Best wishes,
Averil