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Ashbourne Shrovetide football: Mick Betteridge set to join an elite group

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FEW men can say they have goaled and turned up a ball at the annual extravaganza that is Ashbourne Shrovetide.

But on Ash Wednesday, February 18, Ashburnian Mick Betteridge will go into the record books as a man who has achieved both.

He is one of the two men chosen to turn up the ball at this year's event and, just like the goal he scored three decades ago in 1987, it will be etched in his memory. In the past 150 years, only 200 balls have been goaled.

He said: "It is a singular honour and one which I will treasure."

His father had been due to turn up the ball in 1999 but was unable to.

"He died later that year, so there is some poignancy there," said Mick.

Everyone who has watched a Shrovetide match, even from a distance, will recognise Mick.

The father of three, who was born and raised in Ashbourne and is the Shrovetide secretary, got his first taste of the action-packed event when he was seven. He was in the right place at the right time when the ball broke free from the hug (scrum) at the bottom of School Lane. He gave it a kick. He's never missed a match since.

Sport is in Mick's blood. His father was Raymond Michael Betteridge (also known as Mick), a PE teacher at Ashbourne's Secondary Modern School. Mick followed his father into teaching and studied at Loughborough, taking up jobs and moving around primary and junior schools for around 20 years before settling back in Ashbourne. Mick stayed in education until his retirement in 2010 – but rather than settle in one classroom, the latter half of his career was devoted to helping children with special educational needs.This saw him travelling round the county and beyond. He estimates he has taught in more than 50 schools.

Mick said: "Because Shrovetide has become such a big deal, there is more interest worldwide and it has become, dare I say, a social occasion in the Derbyshire calendar. But in a way it defines Ashbourne; it's part of Ashbourne's identity and because of that it has a huge cultural significance to Ashburnians. You'd be amazed at the number of people who take time out to book their holidays around Shrovetide. My son, Simon, has also scored a Shrovetide goal. If the ball is scored, the scorer keeps it – and balls are very highly prized."

Four or five balls are made each year for the event but, sometimes, no goals are scored at all.

"The event is a focal point for old Ashburnians," said Mick. "The atmosphere on those two days is like no other. There's a lot of excitement and anticipation. It's such an invigorating game for the young men and a chance for old Ashburnians to renew and cement friendships.

"The event has a unifying presence which is very important for the town. You see people you haven't seen for ages. If it wasn't for Shrovetide, those ties would be lost."

So, while the world's media is fascinated by the dramatic scrummage-like images of the ancient game of football in the streets, for Mick and his fellow Ashburnians friendships are rekindled and a mutual love for their home town is at the heart of its undiluted popularity.

Ask anyone who has watched the magic unfold and they will tell you the event creates a huge buzz. Anyone can sample the atmosphere, with tourists, camera crews and locals all blending into the mix. Inevitably, Mick is used to media requests, often from far-flung places. "The Japanese, in particular, seem to like the craziness of it all," said Mick.

"I think the Japanese like it because their society is very constrained. The Germans like it too, and the Spanish. A few years ago, an American filmmaker made a film about it, Wild In The Streets.

"There is a lot of media interest. Some of it is welcome, some of it isn't. I don't mind as long as they approach it in the right way. It may look thuggish but it's not, it's highly organised. There are rules and they are strictly adhered to. It's not a free-for-all."

Turning up the ball, the phrase used to encapsulate the moment when it is hurled into the crowd of players, is a great honour bestowed on locals, though sometimes celebrities and royals play their part. In 2003, Ashbourne welcomed Prince Charles, who threw himself into the fun of the event.

"He was game," Mick smiles, "even though he'd had an op only a few weeks before. He wanted to stay longer but his aides whisked him away.

"He's always been a tremendous supporter of the event, as has our MP, Patrick McLoughlin."

Though young at the time, Mick remembers the visit of football legend Brian Clough in 1975. "We often say, there are hundreds of MBEs but only two people can turn up the ball at Ashbourne."

Ashbourne Shrovetide football: Mick Betteridge set to join an elite group


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