Football Match With A Few Rules - Shrove Tuesday Match

These guys had other things on their mind on Shrove Tuesday, as the annual 'Up'ards and Down'ards' no rules football match got underway in Ashbourne, Derbyshire (England). First played in the 17th Century between teams from opposite ends of the Derbyshire town, hundreds of participants aim to get a ball into one of two goals that are positioned three miles apart at either end of Ashboune. The game can last until 10pm. If a goal is scored before 6pm, then a new ball is 'turned up' again and a new game started. If the goal is scored after 6pm then the game ends for that day and continues into the next day - known as Ash Wednesday.

Typically, the ball is rarely hit, although it is not against the rules. The ball can be beaten hands, feet, head. But usually ball just rolls over the crowd of several hundreds of human hands.

Two competing teams - Upper and Lower. Upper consists of residents of the northern part of the city, the lower - from the south. Gates are located at a distance of 4 km from each other: one - on Startson Mill (for upper), others - on the Clifton Mill (for lower).

Tourist goalscoring chances are almost zero, although to participate in a match that nobody will forbid. Number of players is not limited, as the area of playing field (except for the places specified in the rules). Therefore, at the time of the game is not recommended to leave cars on the streets.

The game has just 5 rules: 1) the killing and cruelty during the game is strictly prohibited and 2) the ball can not be transported in a vehicle, and 3) the ball can not be hidden in a bag, coat, backpack, etc. 4) you can not play in cemeteries , churches and places of memory, 5) play after 22:00 is prohibited.