Royal Shrovetide Football - Local Dialect

Local Dialect

The following are words and phrases used at the game, with a brief explanation of their meaning:

Turner Uper

The person who starts that day's game

Turning up

The act of throwing the ball from the "plinth" into the crowd of waiting player's to start a game.

Hug

The scrum like formation that naturally forms as the Up'Ards and Down'Ards battle for the ball.

Break

When the ball is released from the hug and play moves quickly.

Runners

Players that wait on the outside of the hug for the ball to break in order to collect the ball and cover as much ground as possible in the direction of their team's goal. There are selected runners for each team and they train regularly throughout the year, usually by running from goal to goal.

River Play

As the name suggests, this is a reference to the sections of the game played in the river; as with runners there will be members of the team that specialise in river play. It is possible for the entire game to be played solely in the river.

Clifton

The Down'ards goal location.

Sturston

The Up'ards goal location.

Duck

Local colloquialism used as a friendly greeting, for example "Do you know where the ball is, duck?" Comparable words from other regions would include "mate" or "pet'".

The Green Man Royal Hotel

Name of the pub/hotel where the pre-game dinner is hosted and speeches given; The turner up is carried from here on the shoulders of the players and over to the Shawcroft. The public can view this event on TVs outside. When it is time to start the game the players enter the venue and hoist the turner-up in the air and carry them to the starting post.

Shrovie

Slang for Shrovetide.

"Down wi' it"

(Down with it) Often shouted by many onlookers supporting the Up'ards or Down'ards, mainly women. To force the ball down in the centre of the "hug" thus slowing down the progress of the opposing team who are trying to throw the ball clear to their "runners" so they can make a "break" towards goal. This would typically happen when a team has won that day or the previous day and wish to force a draw in the game becoming overall winners that year.

Plinth

From where the ball is "turned up" (thrown) to start a game.