Scoring the Hales
Encyclopedia
Scoring the Hales is the name of a large scale shrovetide
football match played yearly in Alnwick
, Northumberland
. Once a street contest, it has now moved to a field named The Pasture across the River Aln
from Alnwick Castle
. The match involves about 150 men on either side and is a contest between the parishes of St Michael and St Paul. The goals are decorated with greenery and stand about 400 yards apart. Legend has it that it was never a ball but a scotsmans head that was kicked about
The original game started with the ball being sent over the Barbican
of the Castle to the crowd assembled below. It was then kicked through the streets of the town. Occasionally the game went towards Bondgate Tower and from there to the pastures. In consequence of danger arising from kicking the ball through the town the game within the town was discontinued in 1825 and has since been confined to the pastures.
Nowadays the ball is fetched from the castle in procession, preceded by the Duke of Northumberland
's piper. The game is won by whichever team is first to score 2 "hales" or goals, after which the ball is carried to the river and thrown in. Whoever manages to get it out at the far side of the river is allowed to keep the ball, but they have to swim the River Aln to get it.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
football match played yearly in Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. Once a street contest, it has now moved to a field named The Pasture across the River Aln
River Aln
The River Aln runs through the county of Northumberland in England, discharging into the North Sea on the east coast of England.The river gives its name to the town of Alnwick and to the village of Alnmouth, and its source, Alnham in the Cheviot Hills...
from Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in the town of the same name in the English county of Northumberland. It is the residence of the Duke of Northumberland, built following the Norman conquest, and renovated and remodelled a number of times. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:Alnwick...
. The match involves about 150 men on either side and is a contest between the parishes of St Michael and St Paul. The goals are decorated with greenery and stand about 400 yards apart. Legend has it that it was never a ball but a scotsmans head that was kicked about
The original game started with the ball being sent over the Barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
of the Castle to the crowd assembled below. It was then kicked through the streets of the town. Occasionally the game went towards Bondgate Tower and from there to the pastures. In consequence of danger arising from kicking the ball through the town the game within the town was discontinued in 1825 and has since been confined to the pastures.
Nowadays the ball is fetched from the castle in procession, preceded by the Duke of Northumberland
Duke of Northumberland
The Duke of Northumberland is a title in the peerage of Great Britain that has been created several times. Since the third creation in 1766, the title has belonged to the House of Percy , which held the title of Earl of Northumberland from 1377....
's piper. The game is won by whichever team is first to score 2 "hales" or goals, after which the ball is carried to the river and thrown in. Whoever manages to get it out at the far side of the river is allowed to keep the ball, but they have to swim the River Aln to get it.