Atherstone Ball Game 1013

[Madhatter]

Another ball game has come and gone. Pictures will uploaded to facebook in due course.

[Madhatter]

ANOTHER year for an age-old tradition was another year of blood, sweat and tears for the townsfolk taking part.

The Atherstone Ball Game ended in its usual style, with people piled on top of one another, desperate to be the person clutching the ball when the klaxon sounded.

But, controversially this year, there was a shared victory, with 24-year-old Sean Glenn and 26-year-old Luke Riley refusing to let go and give up their fight when it reached 5pm.

The sweat-soaked pair, with torn clothes and tired arms were happy to be declared joint winners, when stewards decided it was too close to call.

Atherstone man Sean, who works at the 3M factory in the town, was keen to thank his team mates Lee Rollinson, Mark Rollinson, Robert Mangen, Chris Mangen, Billy Taylor, Ryan Johnson and Kieran Marshall for their help and although he said he did not have a problem with sharing the ball, he said he would be back next year to win again.

“I am alright with sharing the ball but I am definitely going to be here at the Ball Game next year and you are looking at the 2014 winner right here,” said Sean who has taken part in the Atherstone Ball Game since he was 18 years old and even suffered a broken hand as a result.

Luke Riley, who is a concrete erector from Grendon, thanked his ‘Grendon boys’ and said after the tough game he was looking forward to enjoying a beer at the party in The Legion pub.

The joint winners had worked up a thirst after 35 minutes crammed into the doorway of The Red Lion pub, which had been forced open by the crowds.

Rules state that the ball should be kicked up and down Long Street until 4.30pm before the final scrums are formed but the ball went down earlier than expected, which spoiled some of the fun, according to Geoff Wilding, press officer for the Atherstone Ball Game.

He said: “It was a pity that the big boys grabbed the ball so early on which tends to take some of the fun away towards the end but despite this the game went off in its usual hectic but friendly manner.

“Next year I would like the ball to have more free play throughout the two hours.”

Rob Bernard, the chief marshal agreed. “It has been very tough today,” he said. “The ball went too early and it couldn’t have finished in a worse place with Sean Glenn and Luke Riley both on it, but they decided together when they were both on the ball that they would share it. I think a few things will need to be discussed and changed for next year.”

The rough action also meant that more than one ball was used.

Jean Fullylove, who was given the honour of throwing the ball out of Barclays bank window at 3pm also says she would like children and women to get more opportunities to take part in the annual event.

She said: “I hope that the Atherstone Ball Game goes on for a very long time, in fact forever but I just wish that it would go back to how it used to be years ago when children and women got to have a kick.”
www.nuneaton-news.co.uk/News/Atherstone-Ball-Game-meets-a-controversial-end-20130213160637.htm