atherstone ball game

TV presenter and comedian Larry Grayson was on hand in 1976 to start the Atherstone Ball Game.

We’ve done our best to keep you updated while staying a safe distance from the battle!Scroll down below to re-live the event, we’ve spoken to the winner, the chief marshal and former Aston Villa boss Brian Little, who threw the ball out at 3pm.Plenty of beers are being drunk and the atmosphere is lively and happy in the Legion. A ball game that has been played annually for more than 800 years had to be cancelled after one of the stewards fell ill..

The steward, who was found in a critical condition, was airlifted to hospital after being treated by paramedics. Not even wars could stop it going ahead! We are continuing to work with the organisers to understand the circumstances of this unfortunate incident. The Atherstone Ball Game has delivered another hugely entertaining day for all involved!Children are signing the winning ball right next to me and having their photographs taken with it. Warwickshire Police confirmed there were "no suspicious circumstances they are aware of" that led to ending the game early. He even stuck around to… Renowned comic, impressionist and TV presenter Mike Yarwood was given the honour of starting the game in 1969. Anyone attempts to break through the crowd, two beefy blokes swot them awayWe had a ball swap at Barclays Bank as the original had reached the end of its life! It’s within a big bundle of chocolate coins.Brian Little cries ‘’oh my god’’ as the melee ensues! From 4.30pm onwards, the teams of onlooking wannabe winners will be planning their line of attack.From 4.30pm, the ball can be ‘taken down’, in other words, deflated. The 820th Atherstone Ball Game took place on Tuesday, March 5 - and it delivered plenty of drama in the North Warwickshire town!

Blood was shed but from my vantage point, no casualties.The ball is now making its way down Long Street and the procession begins, with children invited to give the ball a kick! 820th edition of Shrove Tuesday event took place in Long Street this afternoonThe 820th Atherstone Ball Game took place on Tuesday, March 5 - and it delivered plenty of drama in the North Warwickshire town!From the moment former Aston Villa boss Brian Little hurled the ball down from the first storey of Barclays Bank, to the moment the klaxon sounded to announce the winner, hundreds participated while thousands spectated.A team of hardy stewards braved the ensuing war to keep the peace as teams battled it out to be named the 820th winner of the Shrove Tuesday contest.Our reporter Bobby Bridge was the man on the ground for the ball game, see below for how we covered the event. I attended the Shrovetide Ball Game and reported on the old Southern League Premier side Atherstone Town when ex-England keeper Gil Merrick was the manager, coaching a young Gerry Peyton who went on to hold the … Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore … Maybe one of them will become a future winner!We’ve spoken to the winner, the video will be with you soon!I’ve just had a firm handshake from the four-time winner of the Atherstone Ball Game, Jonathan Slesser.He’s told me he will be grabbing beer before joining us for a chat. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Atherstone is still famous for its annual ' Atherstone Ball Game ', which has been played since the 12th century and celebrated its 800th anniversary in 1999. The Atherstone Ball Game is one of the oldest traditions in the country - the game has taken place every single Shrove Tuesday for 805 years. The ball is rammed up against St Giles Hospice book shop, inside a door way. Jonathan Slesser is posing for pictures with his Grendon team.Jonathan Slesser is a FOUR time winner of the Atherstone Ball Game We’re inside the Legion in the Market Square, all is calm. The ‘ball’ is specially made for the occasion and is thrown into the streets by a sporting or show business personality after gold coins have been thrown out to children waiting below.