Royal Shrovetide Football: Ashbourne game ends

A brutal game of football that sees two sides battle it out to score at opposing ends of a town has finished one-all.

The Royal Shrovetide football game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, saw the Up'Ards and Down'Ards battle to move a ball to posts at two ends of the town.

The Up'Ards took the advantage after Tom Leighton, from Kniveton, goaled the ball at about 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Late on Wednesday, Down'Ards player Craig Frith goaled at Clifton.

Patrick Kerr had "turned up" the ball to mark the final day of play.

On Tuesday, the elaborately-painted ball was pushed into boggy fields towards Sturston and spent most of the day heading in that direction.

Competitors had to endure snowfall and freezing temperatures before it was finally goaled against the traditional millstone.

At about 17:00 the game was suspended for five minutes while a competitor was treated for a leg injury after falling on to an iron railing.

Homeowner James Cartland said: "I happened to look out of the window upstairs and saw them go over with somebody unfortunately underneath.

"At least the railings can be repaired, let's hope he can. There were so many people around him - hundreds of heads."

The Down'Ards had emerged victorious following a 1-0 victory in March 2019.

Thousands of people take part in the match and many head to Ashbourne to watch the match.

The town carefully prepares for the annual event by boarding up shops and cafes to avoid people clattering into glass windows.

Guest of honour Andrew Lemon threw the ball into the crowd on Tuesday, which commenced the start of the match.

Shrovetide committee member Patrick "Paddy" Kerr did the same at about 14:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Prince Charles and the late Nottingham Forest and Derby County football manager Brian Clough are among the famous names chosen to "turn up" the ball in previous years.

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