NEWCASTLE United may have re-named their hallowed stadium, megabucks Manchester City could be about to usurp their multi-title winning neighbours and goal-line technology might yet revolutionise decision-making.
But in football, some traditions never change.
Yesterday – against the backdrop of magnificent Alnwick Castle – a contest dating back centuries was fought out once again in its time-honoured style.
The town’s rival parishes of St Michael’s and St Paul’s locked horns in The Pastures below the castle in the annual Shrove Tuesday football match.
The shirts of the 100 or so players might have borne the names of modern-day heroes like Messi and Lampard – but the wince-inducing nature of the challenges evoked long bygone days when such contests began in communities known for “raucous behaviour”.
The tradition of Shrovetide football dates back to time immemorial, but it was in the 1820s that the Duke of Northumberland agreed to take the Alnwick game off the streets by providing a venue in The Pastures.
Yesterday the pitch was tenanted by grazing sheep prior to kick off and pock-marked with molehills, with one of the touchlines being marked by the natural barrier of the River Aln.
The current Duke started proceedings in the traditional manner by dropping the match ball from the castle Barbican to a catcher below. A Northumbrian piper, together with local historian Adrian Ions dressed in costume as a Town Waite, then led a procession of players, officials and spectators down The Peth to the Pastures.
The Shrovetide match has often been a mudbath played in heavy conditions next to the river, but yesterday the weather brought a dry playing surface.
A strong wind meant that the parish playing towards the Hale – or goal – at the Denwick Bridge end of the one-furlong pitch had a distinct advantage, but the first two of the three 20-minute playing sessions ended goalless.
Eventually the deadlock was broken when Stuart Imeson scored a Hale in the final period to win the match for St Paul’s – and earn himself a £30 prize. Leisure centre manager Stephen Temple collected the match ball by beating several other players who dived into the River Alan to retrieve it after the final whistle.
Last night Shrovetide organising committee treasurer, Peter Smith, said: “We decided to increase the prize for scoring the winning Hale from £20 to £30 this year, because we felt it was an important year with the London Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee. That was good news for Stuart Imeson who got the winner.
“There was a pretty decent turnout today and the dry weather meant the pitch wasn’t too bad. We handed out 20 prizes of £2 each for good play and the recipients, who are picked by a committee member, included previous winners such as Geoff Imeson, Mitchell Logan and Danny and Judd Donohoe.”
Mr Ions, who is life president of the Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick and part of the 50-strong Shrovetide committee, said: “The important thing for the match is that we continue to get young people taking part to keep the tradition going.”
