Sedgefield

Sedgefield is a town in the borough of Sedgefield in County Durham, England.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday Football still takes place here; locally it is known as the Ball Game.

Related Topics:
Shrove Tuesday - Football

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"According to the old custom, the parish clerk is obliged to furnish a football on Shrove Tuesday, which he throws into the market place, where it is contested for by the mechanics against the agriculturists of the town and neighbourhood."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The ball is made from leather, its maker is a secret for fear of prosecution. At 1.00 pm it is passed three times through a bull ring in the centre of the village. The object of the game used to be to "ally" the ball at two goals at either end of the village. However the ball can not be allied until 4.00 pm. due to the expansion of the village it know only has one "ally", which has been slightly moved from its original setting. The ally is a beck at the south of the village. During the time between 1 and 4 the ball is played around the surrounding villages, and it is a great privilege to get even a kick, as it can get quite physical. The first person to get the ball to any of the local pubs by tradition receives a free drink.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~