Traditional Royal Shrovetide Football match kicks off in Ashbourne

The historic Royal Shrovetide Football match which “tries the pluck of an Englishman” has kicked off for another year continuing a centuries-old tradition.

Thousands gathered to watch the chaotic action sweep back and forth through the streets in the market town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire on Tuesday.

The contest, whose reputation draws not only locals but outsiders from across the world, traditionally pits the Up’Ards – anyone born north of Henmore Brook which divides the town – against the Down’Ards.

Anyone who can strike the ball three times, as the ancient rules dictate, at Sturston goal on the east side of Ashbourne scores a point, known as goaling.

As is customary, the action had earlier kicked off with the “turning-up” of the ball at Shawcroft car park where thousands had gathered for the unusual Pancake Day spectacle.

In the past, the Prince of Wales and former Nottingham Forest football manager Brian Clough have been among the famous names chosen to “turn-up” the ball.

For 2017, the honour belonged to businessman Dr Dallas Burston, a former GP, and retired dairy farmer John Stubbs.

Ahead of the hard-fought contest, customary preparations including boarded-up shop windows, wooden sleeper rails nailed to walls to guide the play safely past windows and plenty of bunting were all visible.

Players were reminded of the usual rules: no climbing on parked cars, and a ban on entering cemeteries, memorial gardens and churchyards before the ball was lofted skywards on the stroke of 2pm.

The game can be traced at least as far back as 1667, when Charles II still sat on England’s throne.