Royal Shrovetide Football: England’s Ancient Game with Unusual Rules”
In the town of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England, an extraordinary sporting event unfolds annually: Royal Shrovetide Football. Dating back to the 12th century, this game is played over two days—Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday—and involves hundreds of participants. The town is divided into two teams, the Up’ards and the Down’ards, based on geographical location. The objective…