Ashbourne Football

Where:	Ashbourne, Derbyshire starting at Shaw Croft car park
When:	Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
Time:	2pm both days

The Royal Shrovetide Football game takes place in Ashbourne every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday and is one of the best-known and longest established games in the festive football season, with records going back hundreds of years. After the Procession and the singing of the special Shrovetide Song, the ball is thrown from the platform at Shaw Croft and a fierce game follows which can last until 10pm, the scoring deadline. The Up’ards play the Down’ards and goals are scored by hitting the ball three times against the goal; the goals are purpose built stone plinths 3 miles apart with rough fields as well as streets to contend with and the scoring must take place from the river – one of the few rules! Expect huge crowds of a few thousand people and a big scrum known as the “hug”.

Helpful Hints

The terrain is mixed and the game can be fast & furious – keep well back if you don’t want to get swept up in it. A display of beautifully decorated historic balls will be on display at the various hostelries around the town – well worth a visit. As the signs tell you : Park with Caution! It’s difficult for a non-native to tell you a good place to park – I thought near the Leisure Centre might be safe but at one stage the “hug” was a bit too close for comfort…. The video features the early stages of the Ash Wednesday game – the weather turned poor later on and we had to put the camera away.

In 2025 the games should be played on Tuesday 4th March and Wednesday 5th March.

Click here for the event Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/48113610733