While the Apocalypse – Blog

A medieval ancestor of modern football, the Atherstone Ball Game takes over the main street of the Warwickshire town in an annual tradition held every Shrove Tuesday since 1199. A game played over two hours with no pitch and minimal rules, local men and boys battle it out to be last in possession of a large ball – specially constructed each year, and adorned with ribbons and handwritten messages offered by the town’s schools and businesses.

Though the event has faced criticism for rising aggression, the true intentions behind this working class tradition carry a deep sentiment, while the violence of the brawl is surface level. A contained release that ends with the shaking of hands between men, the hypermasculine display reinforces the respect, camaraderie and belonging that binds its players, presenting a collective spirit and shared identity where the town’s primary industry has been lost.