Atherstone Ball Game

This is one of those marvellous community traditions that the UK has so many of, whether it’s chasing a rolling a cheese downhill or incinerating effigies/strangers on a bonfire. This one involves teams grappling for possession of a large ball, with absolutely no rules whatsoever. Britain, Britain, Britain. This is why we have the finest community cohesion in the World.

Now I must say that my first reaction to the film of this year’s ball game was ‘steady on that’s a bit much’. It’s an elf n’stacey nightmare. But my second was, yeah but that looks a bit of a hoot and a cracking laugh. Which me is correct?

Contains violent scenes.

 

Just bantz innit.
Nice gentle warm up for a few weeks time at the Kennel.

 

Wouldn’t it be safer to bet on line, seeing as they aren’t prepared to wait patiently in a queue for the bookies to open

 

Poor old Ivan Toney was trapped inside.

 

Plenty of hi vis jackets and trousers so I think it is fully health and safety compliant.

 

It's like that scene in the subway at the end of Crocodile Dundee. Beautiful.

I do love the history of mob football in this country. I might challenge latimer to a game next year.

 

The crowd’s oohs and ahhs when a punch or kick lands add greatly to the atmosphere.

 

A Chenies vs Latimer "derby" would be a great watch. Lots of copies of "The Times" being waved aggressively, lots of loud "Excuse me"s.

 

You don’t say.

 

Apart from knock each others teeth out, what are they actually aiming to do?

 

Keep the ball. Think the game lasts 2 hours and whoever is in possession of the ball at the end wins.

 

I didn't realise it was that violent. In amongst that I think I spotted that Paul Wilkinson was offside

 

Sweet that you feel a reason is required.

I would sponsor the event if I was a local dentist.

 

Atherstone is only one of these games - they're literally all over the country. They're also so important to the cultural history of this country that English Heritage actually commissioned a survey and a history of these matches: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uppies-Downies-Extraordinary-Football-Britain/dp/1905624646/

 

This was just down the road from where I used to live, what a strange tradition.

 

Just a bunch of lads etc.

 

What would happen if you got the ball, took it into your home and locked the door?

Are other "players" allowed to trash their way in and destroy your property?

 

The game is confined to the High Street, so you’d have to live there.

There appear to be many actions that are clear criminal offences, which the Police ignore. So it’s a toss up whether they would care about participants following the ball into someone’s home.

Apparently there is a ‘no killing’ rule, which seems superfluous under the law.

 

Seems harsh unless there are exceptions

 

Woke Police ruining the game, innit?

 

Should be out catching real criminals.

 

Do they have VAR?

 

Hope so - be great in slow motion so people can track where there teeth flew off too post match.

 

There is game on Physical 100 on Netflix which is pretty much the exact opposite to this, really a polite Koreans competing against each other to keep a ball.

 

There is a useful explainer on YouTube as well as lots of videos Americans reacting to it, clearly loving the threat to their status as the World’s craziest country.

 

Got any analysis stat grams on this sport Reid’s?

 

Daniel Pudil was there, and got booked.

 

I wish!

 

I can’t see the current Watford team having the stats to win this one.

 

Yes. Looks like a game for Hunter/Storey/Harris of old; though I reckon Holebas would give it a good go. Other ex WFC nominations?

Edit: I'm with you on the "steady on that's a bit much."

 

Roger Joslyn leading a team picked by Slavisa Jokanovic?

 

Excellent choices.

 

Dunno but defo not Fabrinni