Town readies for return of no-rules football game

Those who hail a match ball are regarded as heroes for the night

A town is teeming with excitement as a centuries-old, no-rule mass football game returns.

The first game of the 2024 Uppies and Downies series will be played in Workington, Cumbria, on Good Friday.

The unusual spectacle draws hundreds of people each year and sees players use the town as their playing field, including rivers, fields and even the shopping precinct.

Resident Robert Daglish said: “This is our town’s game and we’re keeping the tradition going.”

'Means a lot'

The game sees players with roots in the upper side of town, the uppies, clash with those from the bottom, the downies, to bring a specially made ball to their side of Workington.

The ultimate prize is that ball, with one made for each of the three matches by official ball maker Mark Rawlinson.

The series unfolds over three games, played on Good Friday, the Tuesday after Easter and the following Saturday.

Mr Daglish’s family has been sponsoring the Tuesday ball since records of the game began 370 years ago.

“What we have is unique, it’s not an organised event, it’s a happening," he said.

"We get the ball made, we throw it off and the game is played.

“It means a lot to me."

Families sponsoring the balls choose the person who will throw off the ball to start the game

This year's balls have been made to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III, as he was crowned after the end of last year's series.

Each game starts at 18:30 GMT at The Cloffocks, from the bridge between Allerdale House and the Black Path.

To win the game, the "hailer" must reach Workington Hall if they are an uppie, or a capstan on the Prince of Wales Dock if they are a downie.

Uppie Nathan Askew, 32, is the only man to have hailed all three balls in one series.

The 2018 hat-trick winner said that despite his previous success, he was “going for gold”.

Downie Pat Carr, 48, from Mossbay, hailed balls at games in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The downies generally have fewer players than the uppies, partly following the demolition of the old Marsh and Quay estate at the bottom end of Workington.

He said: “To be part of such a small team, being outnumbered, but being able to outdo the uppies is the best feeling.”

But he said the rivalry ended when the games did and camaraderie between the players was one of the reasons for enjoying the game.

Players and supporters of Uppies and Downies will raise money for Andy's Man Club this year

Players also raise money for charity each year.

Charity event organisers Elvin Jarvis and David Shepherd said they had raised about £50,000 since 2017 for local causes, despite the games not being played over the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

This year’s cause is Andy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide prevention charity.

A charity night will be held at Workington’s Trades Hall on 26 April, where a raffle and charity auction will take place, as well as entertainment.

Andy's Man Club's John Hewitson, who is a facilitator at Workington’s branch, said up to 70 men attended the weekly meetings at the Workington Town rugby ground.

He added it was important for a game like uppies and downies – which was mostly played by men – to have the connection with the service.

Thanks to veteran player David Shepherd, this year's ball celebrating the coronation of King Charles (middle), was reunited with other historic jubilee balls

Friday’s ball is sponsored by Townsley and Marilyn Boyd, who have been sponsors for nearly 40 years.

They have a very personal reason for being attached to the game.

“The first ball we threw off was by my daughter Hayley, she would have been 50 this year but she died of bone cancer in 1988. She was 13 when she died.

“We call the Friday ball Hayley’s ball, it brings back those memories.”