Shrovetide Football: The Craziest Football Match in England?

In this episode of The Sideline Social, I’m heading to Ashbourne, Derbyshire, to explore one of the strangest football traditions in England — Shrovetide Football.

I’ll be looking at where this centuries-old tradition came from, the rivalry between the Up’ards and Down’ards, the unique Shrovetide ball, how you actually score, and why authorities once tried to stop the game.

But the biggest question I’ll be asking is: why has Shrovetide survived for so long? And could this chaotic, community-driven tradition actually tell us something about what football is really about?

Football beyond the final whistle. ⚽

Why Do Football Rivalries Become So Personal?

Why does beating one particular team feel so much more important than any other game?

In this episode of The Sideline Social, I explore what makes football rivalries so intense and why they can become such a huge part of a club’s identity. From geography and local pride to history, family, bragging rights and unforgettable moments, I look at why some rivalries mean so much to supporters.

I also look at how social media has changed football rivalries, where the line between rivalry and hatred should be drawn, and whether football needs rivalry to be at its best.

Plus, From the Stands, where I hear your thoughts and experiences of football rivalries.

What if football had never been brought to our screens?

In this episode of What If?, we imagine a world where TV broadcasting never existed. How would football clubs survive? Would matchday experiences be bigger? Would players be as famous? And could the modern football industry we know today even exist?

From finances and fan culture to transfers, sponsorships and the global reach of the game, let’s explore how different football could look without television.

Football beyond the final whistle.