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At 2pm each Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, the residents of the town of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, gather in the streets to play the ancient game of Royal Shrovetide Football.

The river Henmore runs through the centre of the town and acts as a natural divide between the two teams. Those born north of the river are known as the Up’ards, and they play against those born on the south - the Down’ards.

The goals are three miles apart and are situated on the river bank at the site of two former mills. To score, the ball must be tapped three times against a millstone built in to the stone pillars.

Pictured is Down’ard Matthew Etherington as he is paraded back through the town centre after scoring at Clifton Mill.

The final score for Shrovetide 2016 was 1-1

Mr Etherington said: “It feels absolutely amazing… a dream come true.

“We’ve battled along for two days. We had good back-up from the boys and we got it down there.

“I couldn’t ask for a better team, I thank every one of them. We’ve all worked hard.”
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© 2016 Photography by Matthew James
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Royal Shrovetide Football - The Guardian, Editorial Portfolio, Best of Editorial
At 2pm each Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, the residents of the town of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, gather in the streets to play the ancient game of Royal Shrovetide Football.<br /> <br /> The river Henmore runs through the centre of the town and acts as a natural divide between the two teams. Those born north of the river are known as the Up’ards, and they play against those born on the south - the Down’ards. <br /> <br /> The goals are three miles apart and are situated on the river bank at the site of two former mills. To score, the ball must be tapped three times against a millstone built in to the stone pillars. <br /> <br /> Pictured is Down’ard Matthew Etherington as he is paraded back through the town centre after scoring at Clifton Mill. <br /> <br /> The final score for Shrovetide 2016 was 1-1

Mr Etherington said: “It feels absolutely amazing… a dream come true.<br /> <br /> “We’ve battled along for two days. We had good back-up from the boys and we got it down there.<br /> <br /> “I couldn’t ask for a better team, I thank every one of them. We’ve all worked hard.”