Saturday 11 December 2010

HATVENT CALENDAR 11/12/2010



This is a hat of many colours.

It doesn't represent any club at all but instead represents those hardy souls who play in annual Shrovetide football matches.

Shrovetide football is a throwback to the origins of the modern game we all know and love today. It doesn't matter what colour shirt you wear in such games - it seems anything is acceptable as long as it keeps you reasonably warm and dry (unless you follow the ball into a river or a pond or down a drain).

Royal Shrovetide football is something I've only really followed during the last couple of years through Twitter, an ideal medium for such a long game. But I've been aware of it for many years. My first ever football book (courtesy of Ladybird) makes reference to these games!

In particular I've followed the Royal Shrovetide game at Ashbourne in Derbyshire. It is played on two days: Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Football is played elsewhere (e.g. Alnwick Castle) but not as often as it has done in the past it seems. There are lots of references to places where it is played but not many modern day reports of games. A real shame.

You can find out more about Shrovetide football at the following links:

The report on the 2010 game at Alnwick Castle - includes pictures:
http://alnwick.journallive.co.uk/news/late-header-decides-alnwick-sh.html

The Royal Shrovetide football game at Ashbourne in 2010 is covered here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/derby/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8524000/8524010.stm

And the history of Royal Shrovetide football including phrases / terms can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Shrovetide_Football

BlueThruAndThru