Ashbourne Shrovetide Football

The Green Man Royal Hotel is the venue for the pre-game luncheon.

Here, the starter, the Shrovetide Football Game Committee and other dignitaries spend a couple of hours of socialising over drinks and a roast dinner.

The Shrovetide Anthem is sung and the starter is usually invited to make a brief speech after lunch.

It is here where the crowds get their first match-day glimpse of the ball as it is carried out of the Green Man (under guard!) and taken to the Shaw Croft car park.

The Green Man, a former coaching inn, has hosted the Shrovetide lunch since ancient times.