Town cheers on ancient Shrovetide football match

The historic game has virtually no rules and no referee is involved [PA Media]

Hundreds of people have enjoyed watching a Shrovetide football match as part of a tradition dating back to at least 1762.

The event, in Alnwick, Northumberland, is played on the fields by the River Aln after a procession from the castle.

Several hundred people cheered the players on, with organisers saying it had been a fantastic day carrying on the yearly tradition.

Players representing the parishes of St Michael's and St Paul's attempt to get the ball through large goals known as hales. This year, St Paul's was victorious winning 2-0.

Here are some of our favourite pictures from the action, captured by photographer Owen Humphreys.

A player is volleying the football and coated in dark mud. He has goggles resting on his head — The fields were very wet and muddy [PA Media]

A Northumberland piper leads a procession. A man in a red coat carries the ball. A mayor is also there and wears a gold chain around his neck. Alnwick Castle is in the background. — A football is brought to the pitch by a procession [PA Media]

Three men are walking on the fields in front of Alnwick Castle. Two are holding large flags and the one in the middle is carrying a football. — The tradition dates back to at least 1762 [PA Media]

A group of players are surrounding the football. Several are turning away from a large spray of mud as one player kicks the ball. The castle can be seen in the background. — Shrovetide football used to be played in towns around the country [PA Media]

Two players clash with a large spray of mud around them. Other players are waiting to see where the ball comes loose. — The Alnwick Shrovetide Football Committee keeps the tradition going [PA Media]

People jump into the river as a crowd watches on. — Some were happy to get wet as part of the game [PA Media]

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