PEOPLE in Sedgefield marked Shrove Tuesday today (March 1), as hundreds lined the streets to watch the chaotic scenes and dozens more got involved in the 'unique' tradition in the County Durham town.
With the tradition getting cancelled last year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, it returned with purpose and drew a crowd from far and wide. Some people even travelled 200 miles from the South of England to see the ball game today.
The aim of the game is to ‘battle’ for the ball when it kicks off at 1pm each Shrove Tuesday. The game is organised by a secret group of residents and is kicked off by the town ‘elder’.
Read more: Pictures: Sedgefield ball game brings blood, sweat and pints
From the start, which is signalled when the ball has been passed through the ‘bullring’ three times, people throw, kick and pile for the ball from 1pm until 4pm, but the ball goes missing in between when many of the players take a break in the many pubs in the town, with some taking part getting free drinks in certain pubs if they come in with the ball.
The game ends when the ball has been taken down to the beck at the edge of Sedgefield and then passed through the bullring once again. The person who puts the ball through is then declared the winner, and usually hoisted up on the shoulder of other participants.
Paul Dodsworth, who has taken part in the ball game for more than 30 years, loves the tradition because it unites young and old.
Take a look at some of the best photos of the ball game:
Pictures: SARAH CALDECOTT.
He said: “Everyone is up for the laugh. I started playing when I was 11 in the ball game, and I’ve not stopped since.
“It’s great to see everyone out and about, united in the fact that we all play this unique sport. What other events could you see very young people and very old people uniting.
“While it might look out of hand, it does stop at a lot of points for people to catch their breath.”
Here's some more images of today's Sedgefield ball game:
Pictures: SARAH CALDECOTT.
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