Atherstone Ball Game
The Atherstone Ball game is an ancient Shrove Tuesday tradition in which the people of this normally sleepy rural North Warickshire Town awaken and literally brawl over a large ball up and down the towns small ancient streets.
Shops are boarded up, local schools are closed and towns people of Atherstone gather in the main street at 3pm 
for the beginning of this 800 year old Shrove Tuesday tradition.
There is only one rule, and that rule is the ball can not be taken outside the town. Anything and everything else goes. The winner in this no holds barred contest is the person holding onto the ball at 5pm.
Welcome to the Atherstone Ball Game, let battle commence.
Atherstone Ball Game History
This traditional Shrove Tuesday ‘Ball Game’ has been held annually since the early 12th Century and is one of Atherstone’s claims to fame.
The origin of the game, in the reign of King John, is thought to have been a “Match of Gold that was played between the Warwickshire Lads and the Leicestershire Lads on Shrove Tuesday”.
The Ball Game ‘Rules’
The match starts at 3pm when the ball is thrown from the window of the local Barclays Bank by a local celebrity, and continues until around 5pm when a klaxon is sounded to signal the end of the game. In the past the ball was thrown from a window of a local pub.
The object of the game is to be holding onto the ball at 5pm. The ball may legitimately be deflated or hidden after 4.30pm. Any other tactic to hold on to the ball is permitted, the only stipulation being the ball can’t be taken outside of Atherstone.
There are no goals and no official teams, though players often work together and protect each other, usually in pub ‘teams’. The ancient Angel Inn of the Market Square have had much success in winning the Ball Game.
The ‘ball’ is specially made each year by Gilbert of Rugby, who are world famous for their rugby balls. It is 27 inches (65+ cm) in diameter and weighs four pounds and is filled with water at the beginning of the game.
The Game
The game begins fairly tamely with the ball being kick and thrown up and down the towns main street by anyone brave enough to have ago or get hold of the ball. There are some marshalls who keep a sense of order and allow the kids to have a kick if they wish.
Things though seriously heat up as time goes on and the Ball Game ends in dozens of men literally brawling to get hold of the ball and to hold onto it. Many of the ball games more serious competitors often drink for many hours before the game begins.
Shop fronts up and down Long Street, where the game is mainly played, are boarded up in preparation for the afternoon. The towns Queen Elizabeth High School also finishes the school day early on Shrove Tuesday.
Whoever is able to hang onto the ball at the end of the game not only wins but is also allowed to keep the ball.
Please note this article is a work in progress. We welcome any additions, corrections, or comments. Please see the form at the end of this page.
11 Responses to “Atherstone Ball Game”
Reply to “Atherstone Ball Game”
Last updated: February 3, 2008
- dannie: i moved into atherstone three years ago and my mate told me somthing...
- Anthony Weaver: 2008 was my first ever Atherstone Ball Game,even though I was...
- admin: This years winner was Stuart McLean 28 from Atherstone.
Click here to view pictures from the 2007 Atherstone Ball Game, courtesy of the Atherstone Recorder, Atherstone only dedicated newspaper.
Towards the final stages of the 2006 ball game.
The voice over on the above BBC report from the 2007 ball game was directly 'inspired' by this websites predecessor, as such we think its fair to use their video here. :)
Another clip from towards the end of the 2006 game.
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September 24th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
I will be travelling down to Atherstone for the 2007 shrove tuesday game . I will be doing a running commentry on the internet with a text commentry , live photos and video clips . The next day ash wednesday i will be going to Ashbourne in Derbyshire to do the same . See http://www.kirkwallba.co.uk for more details of the kirkwall Ba game admin@walterhaywood.com I would be grateful if you could put me in touch with a member of your commitee Thanks
September 27th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Hi Walter,
Contact: H Taft (Press Officer / Secretary)
E-mail: haroldtaft04@aol.com
A phone number is also available but I will email you that privately.
Your plans for next years game sound very interesting indeed, a running commentary and live photos and videos will definitely be a first for the Atherstone ball g
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:41 pm
CAN YOU PLEASE SHOW WINNER AND SOME INFO ON THE WINNER OF BALL GAME IN 1998, SO THAT WE MAY RELAY IT TORELATIVES IN THE USA. THANK YOU
October 30th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
just woundering if you have got any pictures of the 1967 or 68 ball game because my family was in it and all my uncles have got a ball just need some pictures to go with them and cant find any anywhere
andy
November 7th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Gary, The 1998 Ball was thrown out by Tony Maycock (Central T.V.presenter)and won by Clint Walker. Upon winning the ball he dedicated his victory to his father Bill,who was terminally ill with cancer.Also i do have photos and cuttings from this year,I will try to get some posted on here if possible. Andrew,through the 60s the ball game was dominated by a team led by a man who was known as (the King of the Ball Game)Mr Sam Fulleylove,again i do have some photos,and will try to post them on here.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:36 am
I live in Italy but was born not fat away from Atherstone in Castle Bromwich. My sister told me about the ball game today, sounds like a really good day, will try and get there next year. By the way my sister is the old lady walking round with a iPod with no batterys in it. All say hello to Ruth.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
So, who won this year?
February 6th, 2008 at 2:25 am
arm gonna win it next year lark- it’s our babbies turn an’ all. yoth.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:36 am
This years winner was Stuart McLean 28 from Atherstone.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
2008 was my first ever Atherstone Ball Game,even though I was born in the George Eliot Hospital Nuneaton (1947 vintage)and live in Bedworth.
The rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm and I shot a whole roll of film.
Yesterday’s newspapers,by coincidence,carried the story that the Dean of Ripon Cathedral in Yorkshire had decided to cancel their ancient Pancake Race,going b ack 700 years (119 years less than Atherstone),because of “fears” over filling in the Health and Safety bullshit “risk assessment “forms. I suppose for an Anglican Dean,it would be too much for him to simply say “We have managed without the risk assessment forms for 700 years,darlings,and the kids love it, so SEE YOU IN COURT” !!!
Warmest congratulations to everyone involved in the Ball Game.
It warms my heart to know that this corner of North Warwickshire has not caved in to the risk assessment forms!
See you next year!
Anthony Weaver
February 13th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
i moved into atherstone three years ago and my mate told me somthing about the ball game . To be onest with you i did’t have a clue so 2006 ball game i went and i would of catched the ball if i didn’t see lots of big men hedding towards me ….. ITS GREAT ….lv to all my atherstone buddys lol xxx