Atherstone Ball Game 2026: Everything you need to know about England’s most brutal football game

Every Shrove Tuesday, the market town of Atherstone in Warwickshire becomes the stage for one of England’s oldest and most physical sporting traditions. The Atherstone Ball Game will return on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, for its 826th edition, drawing participants and spectators to Long Street for a contest unlike any conventional football match.