SHROVETIDE GAME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22444, 13 June 1936, Page 20

SHROVETIDE GAME

OLD ENGLISH CUSTOM FOOTBALL WITHOUT RULES GOALS THREE MIL'ES APART Since before the days of King Charles, tho ancient gamo of Shrovetide football lias been observed in Ashbourne, Kngland. An attempt was made at one time to stop the custom, owing to the roughness of tbo play, but tho townspeople rose up in anger and claimed the right of custom nnd usage and carried on.

To-day the roughness lias practically disappeared, and the gamo is played with an excellent good humour, which is all the more remarkable, having regard to the nature of tho play. To tho uninitiated it should be explained that the gamo is entirely dilferent from any other game of football. The ball is thrown up in the Shaw Croft near the centre of tho town. The goals are three miles apart, and are represented by two mill wheels. Tho teams are decided by birth, nil those horn oil the north side of the Henmore brook playing against those born on the other side.

Anyone can play, and kicking, throwing and carrying the ball nro all allowed. There is no referee and no rules, except to play fair and "don't kick a man when lie's down." Wherever tho ball goes the players follow —in the brook, in the fishpond, in the streets, on the railway lines, over hedge and ditch. Ladies also take part. The "hug" is a feature of the game, when a player holds the ball and scores of other players surround him and by sheer strength try to force tho man toward their respective goals. Often in such "lings" tho players join in singing some popular song. Sometimes tho games last irom two o'clock in the afternoon until midnight.

Several games were played this year on consecutive days, the Duko of Jviitland starting the first contest. During ono game an ugly incident was witnessed after the scoring of a goal. The ball was taken into the liouso of a farmer, and the excited crowd tried to force an entrance. The players gathered coal and flung it at tho windows, breaking several. The farmer tried to beat them off with a stick, and then lie fetched fi Rim from the house, while his wife threw hot water over the players. The police were then forced to take a hand. That tho game can bo accurately described as "All-in Football" is shown by tho fact that in another match the ball disappeared in one of the streets, but was subsequently goalccl by a player after he had covered tho intervening distance by motor-car.