Ashbourne’s Shrovetide Football / Футбол на масленицу в Ашборне
Ashbourne is an attractive old market town situated at the southern end of the Peak District of Derbyshire.
Normally Ashbourne is a peaceful little place, but on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday of each year all signs of peace disappear and it takes on the appearance of a town beleaguered. The visitors arriving without knowledge of what goes on during these two days might easily be mystified, for the shop windows will be boarded up and the entire population of Ashbourne will be wearing their oldest clothes. There is a sense of excitement and holiday feeling everywhere, for it is on these two days that the ancient game of Shrovetide Football takes place.
No one knows when the game was first played at Ashbourne, but it was probably as early as the 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Followers of conventional football will find no resemblance in the Ashbourne version. It is certainly played by sides, but there all similarity ends.
Through the
The ball used for each of Ashbourne’s Shrovetide Football games is, of course, no ordinary ball. It would have to be something special to stand up to the ill-treatment it receives during its hectic day of life. Each year two new ones are produced by craftsmen living in the town. They are made from shoe leather, soaked in water until workable, and then filled with cork dust; finally they are painted with the crest, trade or profession of Ashbourne’s guest of honour who will be throwing up the ball, together with his name and the date.
Nothing has ever stopped the playing of the game, and during the present century the tradition has survived two world wars. Whatever the weather, in sunshine or rain, snow, frost or fog, the game takes place.
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