Are you ready for 2023’s Uppies and Downies?
The first game of the mass no-rules football game in Workington will get underway at 6.30pm on Good Friday – and thousands of people are expected to turn out for one of the town’s annual highlights.
We will be reporting from the game as it happens – so if you can’t make it, remember to join us from 6pm!
Dating back hundreds of years, the town splits into two, self-selecting teams – the Uppies and the Downies. Uppies have to get the specially made ball up to Workington Hall and the Downies to Workington Harbour.
The winner is declared when the player throws the ball up into the air three times.
Good natured in spirit, the game – which is also played on Easter Tuesday and the following Saturday – has had some casualties over the years.
Four people have died while taking part in the game and a plaque was unveiled to commemorate them on the Cloffocks bridge in 2021. It was organised by the game’s fundraising committee.
George Young died in 1828, Chris Smith died in 1882, John Johnstone died in 1932 and Robert Storey died in 1983. Before this year’s Easter Tuesday game, at 6pm, the plaque will be blessed by a vicar.
Lynda Williams, of the fund-raising committee, said: “We thought it would be nice to do as its 40 years on Tuesday since Robert Storey passed away. We would like as many players and former players to attend as possible.”
Here are some photos from over the years that we’ve been covering Uppies and Downies – and we’d love to see yours! Email [email protected]
Downie Dan Fryer clinched the series in the last match of 2022. was victorious. Aaron Lancaster took Good Friday for the Downies and Jamie Friel regained Uppie pride on Easter Tuesday.
