Royal Shrovetide Football

Origins and history

The custom dates back to at least the twelfth century during the reign of Henry II. Records from the early modern period show similar games were played across Britain. A poem from 1683 mentions the activity in Derbyshire. Scholars have linked the local version to French folk games like La soule. The earliest known reference comes from a ninth-century text describing boys playing with a ball. By the seventeenth century, the game was well established in the region.

How the game works

Two teams form based on where players were born relative to Henmore Brook. One group represents those north of the river, while the other represents those south. Play starts at two o'clock in the afternoon and continues until ten o'clock. Participants carry or throw the ball through the streets in large groups. Kicking is allowed but rare. The objective is to reach a goal post three miles away. If a goal is scored before six o'clock, a new ball is introduced.

Goals and scoring

Each team aims for a different mill site located outside the town center. The Up'Ards target Sturston Mill, and the Down'Ards aim for Clifton Mill. These locations feature old millstones set into stone structures near the river. To score, a player must hit the ball against the stone three times. The person who scores is usually chosen by the group beforehand. Tourists rarely achieve this feat, though they may join the effort.

Ceremonies and rules

The event begins with a dignitary throwing the ball from a central plinth. Crowds sing traditional songs before play starts. Shops close their doors to protect property during the match. Cars are parked away from main streets to ensure safety. The game is known as Royal because members of the British royal family have started the ball. This tradition began in nineteen twenty-eight and continued in two thousand three.

How Royal Shrovetide Football is kept

Hundreds of men and women gather in Ashbourne on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. They divide into two teams based on their birthplace relative to Henmore Brook. A dignitary throws the ball from a central plinth after singing. Players then move the ball through the streets in large groups toward distant millstones. They carry or throw the object rather than kicking it. The game ends when a player hits the ball against a designated stone three times.

When and where

The event occurs annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Matches start at two o'clock in the afternoon and continue until ten o'clock. If a goal is scored before six o'clock, a new ball is released and play restarts. Otherwise, the day's competition concludes at the end time.

The tradition is centered in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. The game moves through the town streets between two goal sites. These sites are located at Sturston Mill and Clifton Mill. The starting point is a plinth in the town center. The distance between goals is approximately three miles.

What Royal Shrovetide Football means

The game reinforces local identity and community bonds. Teams are defined by geography within the town. The contest honors historical customs that date back centuries. Participants engage in physical activity that connects them to past generations. The event serves as a celebration of local heritage and shared history.

Days Royal Shrovetide Football is marked

Questions people ask about Royal Shrovetide Football

See also

DreidelA four-sided top spun for small stakes, most often by Jewish families at HanukkahGreasy poleA slippery pole climbed, walked or crossed to win a prize at the top or the far endWorld Eskimo-Indian OlympicsAn annual Arctic gathering of traditional survival games, athletics, and cultural artsPub quizA weekly social trivia game played by teams at tables in pubs and bars

Good reading and sources

• BBC NEWS | UK | EnglandBBC, Article
• Shrovetide football game ends with honours sharedBBC, Article
• BBC NEWS | UK | EnglandBBC, Article
• Shrovetide football game ends with honours sharedBBC, Article

• Royal Shrovetide Football on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-08.