What Is the 'Atherstone Ball Game'? Historic Annual Contest Ends With Two Winners After Fierce Start

Unlike in other places, where people feast on pancakes or hearty meals as a final act of indulgence before the 40-day fasting period of Lent, the market town of Atherstone in Warwickshire has a different tradition during Shrove Tuesday

For one day a year, the town becomes the stage for one of England's oldest and most physical sporting traditions: the Atherstone Ball Game.

On 17 February, residents of Warwickshire gathered at the market town of Atherstone to participate in the 826th edition of this historic clash. This year, two winners were crowned following a brutal opening.

But what exactly is this centuries-old event, and why is it frequently described as England's most brutal form of football? Here is everything you need to know about the game that turns a quiet market town into a medieval battlefield.

What is the Atherstone Ball Game?

The Atherstone Ball Game is a century-old tradition that dates back more than 800 years. Its origins are linked to a medieval contest in 1199 between Warwickshire and Leicestershire.

Since then, the tradition continued and happens annually on Shrove Tuesday. The Atherstone Ball Game remains one of the few surviving examples of historic mob football in England.

Preparations and Community Impact

A specially made leather ball is decorated and prepared for the occasion each year, and a respected local figure is chosen to throw the ball into the crowd to officially begin the game.

The game takes place along Long Street, which is closed to traffic as shops and businesses board up their windows in advance because they know what's coming.

Despite the chaos, the game is regarded locally as a cherished tradition as families, victors, and residents line the streets to witness the spectacle each year.

Meanwhile, Warwickshire Police issues guidance ahead of the event they also warn people that criminal behaviour and vandalism won't be tolerated.

For the residents, the game is not just a simple ball game and physical contest; it is a representation that continues to link that town to its medieval past.

How the Game Works and Why It Is So Intense

As mentioned, the ball game happens along Long Street. Before 3:00pm, large crowds will gather and patiently wait for the ball to drop from the window.

The game has very minimal formal rules, and the only essential requirement is that the ball must remain on Long Street during the game. There are also no teams and no goals; other than that, the person has to hold the ball as long as they can.

As the ball drops at 3:00pm, the ball immediately disappears as players scramble, wrestle, and push for control of the ball in tightly packed crowds.

When the klaxon sounds at 5:00pm, whoever is holding the ball is declared the winner and gets to keep it. That's the prize. Glory and a scuffed-up leather ball.

Crowning Two Winners

For the 826th edition of the Atherstone Ball Game, two winners were crowned: James Bernard and Kieran Marshall, following what was described as a brutal opening and a two-hour battle for the ball.

In videos circulating online, two men could be seen exchanging blows even before the ball was dropped from the window.

The game does not have a specific rule regarding how many people can win; there was even a year when three different men were named victors, which happened in 2023. Apparently, if a player manages to hold on to the ball long enough, their name will be written into the history books.

To some — particularly outsiders — the event looks insane. And, in many ways, it is. By nature, the game is brutal, physical, and messy, and it may make you wonder whether traditions like this still have a place in the modern world.

However, for residents of Warwickshire, it is not viewed as chaos for chaos' sake, but as a long-standing tradition that brings the community closer together and strengthens the town's identity.