Royal Shrovetide Football
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/S/h/r/o/Shrovetide_football_dated_1887jpg.jpg)
The Royal Shrovetide Football Match occurs annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday in the town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, England. Shrovetide ball games have been played in England since at least the 12th century from the reign of Henry II (1154–89). The Ashbourne game also known as "hugball" has been played from at least c.1667 although the exact origins of the game are unknown due to a fire at the Royal Shrovetide Committee office in the 1890s which destroyed the earliest records.[2][3][4][5] One of the most popular origin theories suggests the macabre notion that the 'ball' was originally a severed head tossed into the waiting crowd following an execution.[6] Although this may have happened it is more likely games such as the Winchelsea Streete Game reputably played during the Hundred Years' War with France were adaptations of an original ball game that intended to show contempt for the enemy. [7]
One of the earliest references for football in the County of Derby comes in a poem from 1683 wrote after the English Civil War by Charles Cotton cousin to Aston Cockayne, Baronet of Ashbourne (1608-1684)[8]Burlesque upon the Great Frost.
Two towns, that long that war had raged
Being at football now engaged
For honour, as both sides pretend,
Left the brave trial to be ended
Till the next thaw for they were frozen
On either part at least a dozen,
With a good handsome space between 'em
Like Rollerich stones, if you've seen 'em
And could no more run, kick, or trip ye
Than I can quaff off Aganippe.
Charles Cotton (1630-1687)[9][10]
Shrovetide football played between "Two towns" in Derby is often credited with being the source of the term local derby. A more widely accepted origin theory is the Epsom Derby horse race. Whatever the origins the Local Derby is now a recognised term for a football game played between local rivals and a Derby is a horse race.[11][12]
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/S/h/r/o/Shrovetide_balls.jpg)
A brief history of the Shrovetide ball game
The concept of the ball game was understood in the Early Middle Ages (600–1066). Writing in the ninth-century Welsh monk and historian Nennius makes reference in his book Historia Brittonum to "the field of Ælecti, in the district of Glevesing, where a party of boys were playing at ball" .[14] This account was attributed to a 5th-century source which has not survived.[15] Ball games may have been played throughout the 1st millennium despite a lack of documented evidence. Oral traditions[16] from the West Country and South East Wales assert the games of Cornish "Hurling to Country" & "Hurling to Goals", Devon "Out-Hurling" [17] and Welsh "Cnapan" played during Christian festivals have more ancient Celtic origins.[18][19][20] The wooden balls used in these games are only found in regions where Celtic culture is still venerated. Records from antiquity have survived relating to various ball games played by the Romans notably Harpastum which contained many elements that feature in the Shrovetide ball game. These influences were available to an educated Church Clergy when a ball game was introduced to Shrovetide festivities.[21][22][23]
The earliest recorded Shrovetide ball game comes during the High Middle Ages (1066–1272) from the cleric William Fitzstephen in his description of London Descriptio Nobilissimi Civitatis Londoniae c.1174-1183. The game he witnessed was played at Carnival, an alternative name for Shrovetide, from the Latin Carnilevaria a word variant of carne levare meaning to "leave out meat" an act of abstinence for Lent. Then as now games were played in the afternoon. His account suggests playing ball at Carnival had been an annual event for at least a generation.[24][25]
…"every year on the day called Carnival—to begin with the sports of boys (for we were all boys once)—scholars from the different schools bring fighting-cocks to their masters, and the whole morning is set apart to watch their cocks do battle in the schools, for the boys are given a holiday that day. After dinner all the young men of the town go out into the fields in the suburbs to play ball. The scholars of the various schools have their own ball, and almost all the followers of each occupation have theirs also. The seniors and the fathers and the wealthy magnates of the city come on horseback to watch the contests of the younger generation, and in their turn recover their lost youth: the motions of their natural heat seem to be stirred in them at the mere sight of such strenuous activity and by their participation in the joys of unbridled youth". [25]
The location given for the "suburbs" was to the north of London. The area described of open fields and rivers is typical of the terrain still used for current games played in Ashbourne and in Workington, Cumbria where "Uppies and Downies" games take place on Good Friday, Easter Tuesday and Easter Saturday.[26][27][28]
…"Everywhere outside the houses of those living in the suburbs, and adjacent to them, are the spacious and beautiful gardens of the citizens, and these are planted with trees. Also there are on the north side pastures and pleasant meadow lands through which flow streams wherein the turning of mill-wheels makes a cheerful sound"…. [25]
Although the names of the schools that participated were not stipulated, a previous reference to St. Paul's, Holy Trinity, Aldgate and St. Martin-le-Grand College indicates these Church schools were integral to celebrating this holy-day.
…"St. Paul, the church of the Holy Trinity, and the church of St. Martin have famous schools by special privilege and by virtue of their ancient dignity. But through the favour of some magnate, or through the presence of teachers who are notable or famous in philosophy, there are also other schools"…. [25]
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/L/e/a/t/Leather_Bottle_improvised_bakk1.jpg)
By the Late Middle Ages (1272–1485) there were many incarnations of the ball game being played at Shrovetide, Eastertide and Christmastide in and around the British Isles. All were played in a similar manner with localized innovations. Some of the other better understood games a few of which are still played include the Ba' game (abbreviation of Ball), Ball Game (Atherstone), Ball Game (Sedgefield), Bottle-kicking (usually a leather bottle substitute ball),[29] Caid (Irish name for various ball games and an animal-skin ball), Camp-ball (late medieval includes 'kicking camp'), Football (late medieval), Football (Masonic ceremonial), Haxey Hood ('Hood' name given to a leather tube used instead of a ball), La soule 'soule' name for the ball in Northern France and Scoring the Hales an alternative name for goals used in Cumbria and the Scottish boarders. A contemporary collective term coined for these games is "Mob football".[6]
During the early modern period "Public Schools open to the paying public (an alternative to private home education) adopted the ball game as a sports activity. The version they developed was called football played using a bladder inflated ball. Scholars from these schools wrote the first standard codes for football. These inspired the development of modern codes of football many created by the decedents of emigrants who spread the concept of football around the world.[30][31]
Overview of the Ashbourne game
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/B/a/l/l/Ball_turned_up_Ash_Wednesday_2011.jpg)
The game is played over two days on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, starting each day at 2.00 pm and lasting until 10.00 pm. If the goal is scored (in local parlance, the ball is goaled) before 5.00 pm a new ball is released and play restarts from the town centre, otherwise play ends for the day. Despite the name, the ball is rarely kicked, though it is legal to kick, carry or throw it. Instead it generally moves through the town in a series of hugs, like a giant scrum in rugby, made up of dozens if not hundreds of people. When the ball is goaled, the scorer is carried on the shoulders of his colleagues into the courtyard of The Green Man Royal Hotel, and into the small bar, known as the Boswell Bar.[32]
The two teams that play the game are known as the Up'Ards and the Down'Ards (local dialect for "upwards and downwards"). Up'Ards traditionally are those town members born north of Henmore Brook, which runs through the town, and Down'Ards are those born south of the river. Each team attempts to carry the ball back to their own goal from the turn-up, rather than the more traditional method of scoring at/in the opponents goal. There are two goal posts 3 miles apart, one at Sturston Mill (where the Up'Ards attempt to score), the other at Clifton Mill (where the Down'Ards score). Although the Mills have long since been demolished part of their mill stones still stand on the bank of the river at each location and indeed themselves once served as the scoring posts. In 1996 the scoring posts were replaced once again by new smaller mill stones mounted onto purpose-built stone structures, which are still in use to this day and require the players to actually be in the river in order to 'goal' a ball, as this was seen as more challenging.[32]
The actual process of 'goaling' a ball requires a player to hit it against the mill stone three successive times. This is not a purely random event however, as the eventual scorer is elected en route to the goal and would typically be someone who lives in Ashbourne or at least whose family is well known to the community. The chances of a 'tourist' goaling a ball are very remote, though they are welcome to join in the effort to reach the goal. When a ball is 'goaled' that particular game ends.
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/A/s/h/b/Ashbourne_boarded_up_shops1.jpg)
The game is played through the town with no limit on number of players or playing area (aside from those mentioned in the rules below). Thus shops in the town are boarded up during the game, and people are encouraged to park their cars away from the main streets. The game is started from a special plinth in the town centre where the ball is thrown to the players (or turned-up in the local parlance), often by a visiting dignitary. Before the ball is turned-up, the assembled crowd sing Auld Lang Syne followed by God Save the Queen. The starting point has not changed in many years, although the town has changed around it; as a consequence, the starting podium is currently located in the town's main car park, which is named Shaw Croft, this being the ancient name of the field in which it stands.[32]
The game has been known as Royal since the then Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) turned-up in 1928.[32] The Prince suffered a bloody nose. The game received 'Royal Assent' for a second time in 2003, when the game was once again started by the Prince of Wales, in this instance HRH Prince Charles.[32] On this occasion, the Prince threw the ball into play from a raised plinth. It is traditional for the dignitary of the day to be carried aloft from the old restaurant at The Green Man, down the stone stairs and into the Shawcroft to the plinth.[33][34][35]
The Goals
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/U/p/'/A/Up'Ards_Goal.jpg)
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/D/o/w/n/Down'Ards_Goal.jpg)
The Up'Ards traditional goal was Sturston mill in Sturston village to the east of Asbourne and the Down'Ards goal was Clifton mill in the village of Clifton to the west of Ashbourne. Clifton mill was demolished in 1967. A stone obelisk with commemorative plaque marking the site was unveiled in 1968. This became the Down'Ards goal for the next 28 years. Sturston mill was demolished in 1981. A timber post salvaged from the mill was erected on the site of the old mill to act as a goal for the Up'Ards.[36][37] The purpose-built goals erected in 1996 on the banks of Henmore Brook are located 3 miles apart. The Up'Ards goal is up stream from Shawcroft adjacent to the site of the former Sturston Mill and the Down'Ards goal is down stream from Shawcroft adjacent to the site of the former Clifton Mill. The ball is goaled when tapped three times against a millstone incorporated in the goals.[38]
- Review of Shrovetide 2013- Footage captured for the official players committee. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD.
- Tuesday Up'ard Goal Shrovetide 2012- Footage captured for the official players committee. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD.
- Wednesday Down'ard Goal Shrovetide 2012- Footage captured for the official players committee. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD.
The Ball
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/S/h/r/o/Shrovetide_Football.jpg)
Roll Of Honour
Since 1891 a "Roll of Honour" has been kept documenting both the turner-up and scorer of each game played. It can be seen from the list that the event has only been cancelled twice during that time, once in 1968 and again in 2001, both times due to the outbreak of Foot-and-mouth disease. Even during both World Wars the games were played; indeed, the Ashbourne Regiment even played a version of the game in the German trenches during the First World War.
Visitors to Ashbourne can view the full list at The Green Man & Black's Head Royal Hotel where it is displayed on a series of wooden display frames that are updated yearly.[40]
The Rules
There are very few rules in existence. The main ones are:[41][42][42]
- Committing murder or manslaughter is prohibited. Unnecessary violence is frowned upon.
- The ball may not be carried in a motorised vehicle.
- The ball may not be hidden in a bag, coat or rucksack etc.
- Cemeteries, churchyards and the town memorial gardens are strictly out of bounds.
- Playing after 10 pm is forbidden.
- To Score a Goal the ball must be tapped 3 times in the area of the Goal.
Local dialect
The following are words and phrases used at the game, with a brief explanation of their meaning:
- Turner-Up
- The person who starts that day's game [9]
- Turning up
- The act of throwing the ball from the "plinth" into the crowd of waiting players to start a game.[43]
- Hug
- The scrum like formation that naturally forms as the Up'Ards and Down'Ards battle for the ball.[41][44]
- Break
- When the ball is released from the hug and play moves quickly.[45]
- Runners
- Players that wait on the outside of the hug for the ball to break in order to collect the ball and cover as much ground as possible in the direction of their team's goal. There are selected runners for each team and they train regularly throughout the year, usually by running from goal to goal.[44]
- River Play
- As the name suggests, this is a reference to the sections of the game played in the river; as with runners there will be members of the team that specialise in river play. It is possible for the entire game to be played solely in the river.[46]
- Clifton
- The Down'ards goal location.[47]
- Sturston
- The Up'ards goal location.[47]
- Duck
- Local colloquialism used as a friendly greeting, for example "Do you know where the ball is, duck?" Comparable words from other regions would include "mate" or "pet'".[48]
- The Green Man Royal Hotel
- Name of the pub/hotel where the pre-game dinner is hosted and speeches given; The turner up is carried from here on the shoulders of the players and over to the Shawcroft. The public can view this event on TVs outside. When it is time to start the game the players enter the venue and hoist the turner-up in the air and carry them to the starting post.[43][49]
- Shrovie
- Slang for Shrovetide.[50]
- "Down wi' it"
- (Down with it) Often shouted by many onlookers supporting the Up'ards or Down'ards, mainly women. To force the ball down in the centre of the "hug" thus slowing down the progress of the opposing team who are trying to throw the ball clear to their "runners" so they can make a "break" towards goal. This would typically happen when a team has won that day or the previous day and wish to force a draw in the game becoming overall winners that year.[51][52][53][54]
- Plinth
- From where the ball is "turned up" (thrown) to start a game.[41][43]
The Anthem
The anthem is sung at a pre-game ceremony in a local hotel. It was written in 1891 for a concert held to raise money to pay off the fines ordered for playing the game in the street.[9][55]
![](/2014-wikipedia_en_all_02_2014/I/media/S/h/r/o/Shrovetide_song_Ashbourne1.jpg)
There's a town still plays this glorious game
Tho' tis but a little spot.
That tries the pluck of an Englishman.
And year by year the contest's fought
From the field that's called Shaw Croft.
Then friend meets friend in friendly strife
The leather for to gain,
'And they play the game right manfully,
In snow, sunshine or rain.
Chorus
'Tis a glorious game, deny it who can
That tries the pluck of an Englishman.
For loyal the Game shall ever be
No matter when or where,
And treat that Game as ought but the free,
Is more than the boldest dare.
Though the up's and down's of its chequered life
May the ball still ever roll,
Until by fair and gallant strife
We've reached the treasur'd goal.
Chorus
'Tis a glorious game, deny it who can
Results
2012: Draw[56] 2013: Draw
Films and media
The event is often attended by reporters and documentary makers from several European Countries, along with those from the USA and Japan.
Recent appearances on UK television include Blue Peter, where the presenters experienced the game for themselves, and gameshow They Think It's All Over, where it was featured as the "Unusual Sport" and later in the show some local Down'Ards appeared on the "Feel the Sportsman" round.
The 2006 game was attended by a Los Angeles film company acquiring footage for a documentary titled Wild In The Streets, produced and co-directed by Peter Baxter[57] and narrated by Sean Bean. The film premiered at the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA.[58] The film was released online and on-demand in the US in April 2013.[57]
See also
- Knattleikr, a Viking ball game.
- Caid, an early Irish ball game.
- Kirkwall Ba game
- La soule, a Norman ball game also played in Brittany and Cornwall.
- Medieval football in Europe.
- Bottle-kicking, a similar game played in Leicestershire.
- Lelo burti, a similar game played in Georgia.
References
- ↑ Shrovetide Football, Derby Museum, Flickr.com, accessed August 2011
- ↑ "Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football". Visitashbourne.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ England (2010-10-19). "Royal Shrovetide Football, Ashbourne — Google Sightseeing". Googlesightseeing.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football". Visitashbourne.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://mediafiles.thedms.co.uk/Publication/DS/cms/pdf/Trail_25.pdf
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Wild In The Streets". Wesclark.com. 2002-03-18. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://www.winchelsea.net/community/game.htm
- ↑ http://spenserians.cath.vt.edu/AuthorRecord.php?&method=GET&recordid=32820
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Ashbourne, Derbyshire - Shrovetide Football". Ashbourne-town.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ Jacqueline Simpson, Steve Roud. English Folklore. Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Old Firm's enduring appeal". FIFA.com. 1939-01-02. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ Posted by aitch (2010-11-24). "SING UP THE RIVER END !: The Origins Of The Local Derby". Canaryseventyninety.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Shrovetide links to French football game | Ashbourne News". Ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://www.vortigernstudies.org.uk/arthist/vortigernquoteshb.htm
- ↑ http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/nennius-full.asp
- ↑ http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/212142/folk-literature
- ↑ http://users.senet.com.au/~dewnans/folklore__customs_and_traditions.html
- ↑ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=f899xH_quaMC&pg=PA1543&lpg=PA1543&dq=Cornish+Hurling+celtic+origins&source=bl&ots=p-XAchws-K&sig=OeoeL_-VixTs8l1kZQrZWNhFFBA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hU5xUa2-I8XOOIaYgLgJ&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Cornish%20Hurling%20celtic%20origins&f=false
- ↑ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=NWu6sLJn7-kC&pg=PA66&dq=Cnapan&hl=en&ei=5cxPTaq4PIyxhAemqKH5Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&safe=active&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Cnapan&f=false
- ↑ http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-game/Britain-home-of-football.html
- ↑ http://www.britainexpress.com/History/Early_Christian_Britain.htm
- ↑ http://www.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/tools/dictionary.php?regexp=BALL&method=standard
- ↑ http://secretdalmatia.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/roman-ball-games-in-dalmatia/
- ↑ "Florilegium urbanum - Introduction - FitzStephen's Description of London". Users.trytel.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 http://www.classzone.com/books/wh_05_shared/pdf/WHS05_014_395_PS.pdf
- ↑ "Cumbria - Features - Uppies and Downies". BBC. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Workington is home to a tradition known as Uppies and Downies". Uppiesanddownies.info. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "25/3/2010 - Bridge safety warning for Uppies and Downies games : Cumbria County Council". Cumbria.gov.uk. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Leather Bottle - History of Mattingley". Homecountiespubs.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://myobatlas-production-apac.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/3244ef4c2aeb17c03511c93cb43caef0/files/1310261666-History+of+Australian+Rules+Football.pdf
- ↑ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kaHyGSmywdcC&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=football+at+jamestown+colony&source=bl&ots=1K7teMuE8_&sig=j94eFlEuU3hm3S-pZnweAij5OU4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nc4eUOu0OoHk9ATS14CIBA&safe=active&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=football%20at%20jamestown%20colony&f=false
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 "Shrovetide football in Ashbourne". Derbyshireuk.net. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ The Times, 20 February 2008
- ↑ "BBC - The history of Royal Ashbourne Shrovetide Football". BBC News. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ Name * (2012-12-13). "Royal Shrovetide Football". Honi Soit. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/09405u/DE5037E74F9B8C2CADE183B20B62F877EBE08204.html
- ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/diego_sideburns/3439387046/
- ↑ http://www.derbyshireuk.net/shrovetide_football_ashbourne.html
- ↑ "BBC - Ashbourne Shrovetide Football - the balls". BBC News. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Ashbourne Shrovetide Football". Ashbourne-town.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 "Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide football". Shrovetide.net. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 "Official rules of Shrovetide 2012 | Ashbourne News". Ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 "BBC - Boden and Lomas to start Ashbourne Shrovetide football". BBC News. 2010-12-27. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 "BBC - Ashbourne Shrovetide Football - the teams". BBC News. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Shrove Tuesday stalemate | Ashbourne News". Ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk. 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Ashbourne, Peak District Town, Gateway to Dovedale, Market Town". Peak-districtvisitor.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 "BBC - Ashbourne Shrovetide Football - how to score". BBC News. 2009-12-31. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Leicester Around Leicester - Leicester dialect guide". BBC. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://www.gmrh.com/
- ↑ "Strange sports contests across the UK : DK Travel". Traveldk.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Derbyshire Dialect". Wirksworth.org.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Local dialects in Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park". Derbyshireuk.net. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ Milkshake Design - http://www.milkshakedesign.com, 2012. "Learn Lancastrian / Lancashire accent". mykp.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Local Dialect". Hindleygreenra.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ The Anthem (2009-12-31). "Derby - Places - The Anthem". BBC. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-17125427
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 Littlefield, Bill (April 27, 2013). ""Wild In The Streets" Documents A Historic (And Unusual) Competition". Only A Game. NPR. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
- ↑ "Wild in the Streets". Wildinthestreetsmovie.com. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
External links
- Review of Shrovetide 2013- Footage captured for the official players committee. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD.
- Tuesday Up'ard Goal Shrovetide 2012- Footage captured for the official players committee. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD.
- Wednesday Down'ard Goal Shrovetide 2012- Footage captured for the official players committee. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD.
- Video of Tuesdays 2012 game in four parts. Recorded and viewable in 1080p HD Quality.
- Video of Tuesdays 2010 game in two parts. Recorded and viewable in HD Quality.
- Interactive Map of the playing area with ball parade route, goal locations etc
- Ashbourne Shrovetide pictures by Warren Elkes
- Shrovetide.net Guide to Ashbourne Shrovetide
- Photos of the 2008 game from BBC Derby
- Videos from BBC Derby: "An Introduction to Shrovetide Football" and "Shrovetide Football - Game on!"
- Interactive Map of the playing area with goal locations etc
- Video of Tuesdays 2009 game showing the build up to the start, the ball procession, the turning up and lots of the actual game play.
- Video of Tuesdays 2007 game showing the build up to the start, the ball procession, the turning up and lots of the actual game play.
- Photographs from the 2008 game on DerbyPhotos
- Photographs from the 2007 game on DerbyPhotos
- Photographs from the 2006 game on DerbyPhotos
- Photographs from the 2005 game on DerbyPhotos
- Photographs from the 2004 game on DerbyPhotos
- Photographs from the 2002 game on DerbyPhotos
- Prince starts 'maddest' game BBC news story, (5 March 2003)
- Wild In The Streets USA Sports Illustrated article, (18 March 2002)
- Doctor Danger review of Shrovetide Football
- British Pathe Film Archive Footage of games dating between the 1920s to 1960's.
- Ashbourne News Telegraph Micro Site
- Copy of the Roll of Honour up to 2010
- Wild In The Streets at the Internet Movie Database
- Wild In The Streets Official Movie Site Adobe Systems Flash Player 9 required
- Derbyshire customs
- Ashbourne Shrovetide Football T-Shirts
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