Ashbourne’s annual Shrovetide Football event. Dating back hundreds of years, it’s a town-wide brawl with the aim of getting the ball from the centre to one of two points outside the town (depending which half of the town you belong to; the Up’ards or the Down’ards). Few rules, with ‘don’t kill anyone’ a main one.
This was my second year going to photograph it, and after a lucky first year, the conditions were less than perfect (for photography at least) this year: gloomy, pouring down, and a scrum that spent a good deal of time out of sight in the river and under/through a culvert…
by dntevnbelieveinjebus
34 comments
Those are some great shots!
This looks like an AI generation of British sport
everyone looks like an alcy
r/AccidentalRenaissance
Charlie Bronson’s boy looks like he’s having fun
Guy in the first pic looks like that’s his permanent state.
I’d not heard of this until Reddit
Looks like Ben Kingsley’s aged well.
Sedgefield in the North does this
This is the kind of football that Edward II banned because too many fighting age men were dying
I love different British traditions like this – I’d never heard of it before now; it’s kinda cool!
Number 10 is Sir Digby Chicken Caesar and Ginger after a shower and a shave.
Great shots, what year was this from though? 1985?!
Quality photos these lad
The timing and composition of these shots are awesome, and I love the colours – it makes the photos look rich and old in a way, like film, but there’s people holding phones. Timeless!
r/accidentalrenaissance
Some of these belong in r/accidentalrenaissance
I’d argue the gloominess give these pictures a specific feel. 👌🏼
These photos are top notch. Really love the atmosphere captured in them.
The event looks shit though. Not a single person looks to be having fun.
Even the kids look rough as shit
5 / 6 look like renaissance paintings
I’ve been a couple of times, used to have some friends in Ashbourne. It’s a great day out, plenty of beer consumed. Great to see the Rams 🐏 badge on the ball, too
These pictures have got a cool renaissance vibe to them
i went to school in ashbourne. shrovetide was (and still is!) a massive deal there. our school moved half term a full week forward so it coincided with shrovetide so everyone would have time off to go. it was mental
Who won?
What filter did you add to the photos? The colouring feels so 90s- they’ve got a vibrancy to them that many modern, more sterile photos lack.
These photos are fantastic
Absolutely amazing shots. I can taste the testosterone right through the photos
At the end of the match do they burn a virgin?
These are really excellent photos!
This is an ancient game that is played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday
The game is very important to the town and the people in it , the rule being ‘dont kill anyone’ is a damaging rumour to spread for the games reputation
There are LOTS of rules that ensure the safety of players and spectators
This game is bigger event than Christmas to most who play and we want to ensure this ancient tradition continues for a long time
The town does turn into a bit of a beer festival but those drinking are generally spectators, not players
Players will actively train for months before this game to increase fitness and also discuss tactics prior to the game at meetings, scoring a ball is a once in a lifetime event and a dream come true to any one of these players
Ashbournes not a rough town, these people arent alkies. Incidentally it has actually been hailed as the best location in the country to raise a family – just if you felt these images gave off some type of different vibe.
Now the Atherstone game, I can’t speak for that.
Absolute pleasure to view, thank you
I think the moody weather conditions captured the mood perfectly 👌
Great photos. Especially the ones of the bystanders observing