Shrovetide Football

Name: Shrovetide Football
Start: 2025-03-03
End: 2025-03-04
Location: Ashbourne

Two Days of Intense Chaos Echoing Through Ashbourne

2026/02/16 - 2026/02/17

Every February, the quiet market town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, England, is engulfed for two days in mud, frenzy, and centuries-old rivalry. The Royal Shrovetide Football Match, held on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Lent (Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday), is a grand tradition where the entire town becomes the playing field. This is not just a game-it's a living tradition that stirs the soul of the townspeople. Both locals and visitors drawn by the allure of history and chaos will find themselves captivated by this extraordinary experience.

Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people fill the streets, fields, and even the river. Shrovetide Football is a festival for anyone who loves community, history, and the thrill of organized chaos.

Main Attractions

Main Event

The heart of the festival is the match itself. Every year at 2pm, the ball is thrown into the crowd, and the town instantly erupts with excitement. The town is divided into the "Up'Ards" and "Down'Ards," with teams determined by where you were born in relation to the Henmore Brook. The goal is to move the ball through streets, over fences, across muddy fields, and even through the river, and to strike it three times against a goal post three miles away.

The massive scrum, known as the "hug," moves like a living creature-sometimes disappearing into the darkness, sometimes surfacing for a brief moment in a sea of mud. The cheers of the crowd, the sound of boots splashing through the river, the laughter and shouts of the players, and the roar when a goal is scored-these are sounds you’ll never forget.

Distinctive Costumes and Decorations

There are no uniforms, but many participants wear camouflage trousers, military boots, or rugged outdoor clothing-gear they don’t mind getting torn or covered in mud. The hand-painted ball, decorated each year with local and royal emblems, is a work of art. When a goal is scored, the scorer is carried on the shoulders of teammates, proudly holding the ball aloft as they parade to the Green Man pub.

Traditional Food and Drink

Shrovetide is as much a festival of feasting as it is of football. Pubs overflow with locals and visitors, the air thick with the aroma of ale, fried foods, and on Shrove Tuesday, freshly made pancakes. The Green Man and other pubs become unofficial headquarters, serving hearty meals and beer to players and spectators alike. Laughter, beer, sweat, and the scent of mud fill the streets-this too is part of the festival.

Cultural and Historical Background

Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne has records dating back to at least 1667, though its origins are believed to be even older (early records were lost in a fire). This match is a direct descendant of medieval "mob football," played on the last day before Lent as a final celebration of freedom.

For Ashbourne, Shrovetide is not just a festival but the very identity of the town. Families and friends have participated for generations, forging strong bonds. The rivalry between Up'Ards and Down'Ards is fierce but warm, rooted in geography and family history. For many, Shrovetide is a "tradition written in blood," and even those who leave town return for these days.

Participant Voices

“I saw a video online from Manchester and got curious, so I came to experience it myself. I made friends with a group of students from Derby who explained the rules-or rather, the lack of them-and showed me the best places to watch. The energy was incredible! Everyone was singing and shouting, and just diving into the mud was fun in itself. I tried the local ale, and after the match, we celebrated at the pub. I’ve never had an experience like this before. It’s a memory I’ll talk about for years to come.”

Fun Facts

The Royal Shrovetide Football ball is hand-painted every year, decorated with the Union Jack and Tudor Crown, and filled with cork so it floats in the river.
There are almost no rules-only that murder, assault, and transporting the ball by car are forbidden.
Scorers get to keep the ball, which is later repainted and kept as a memento.
Locals say they would rather miss Christmas than miss Shrovetide, showing how important this event is to the town.