A Workington man’s lifelong dream of hailing a ball in Uppies and Downies has come true – and the moment has been caught on camera.
Brian Fearon, 61, hailed Tuesday’s ball after a four hour-match in heavy rain and high winds came to an electric and emotional end resulting in a special win for the Uppies.
It was at around 9pm during our live updates when the ball went suddenly missing and puzzled spectators became unsure whether the ball had gone up or down.
While everyone remained lost at what was happening – Brian and legendary ball hailer Nathan Askew were enacting a plan they’ve had to hail the ball as a team since 2018.
In a scrum outside the town’s Opera Bingo, Brian managed to get hold of the ball and pass it Nathan, who hid it inside his jacket.
A fellow Uppie then went to do a ‘dummy run’ down the carpark leading the rest of the scrum to chase after him close to a parked up car which quickly sped off – leading everyone to believe it had been taken by the vehicle.
In all the chaos Nathan said he was able to walk off to the leisure centre and towards Brow Top where he was stopped by Downie Pat Carr and two other Downies.
Nathan then lost the ball to Lee Dixon and chased him down, another Uppie managed to stop Lee and threw the ball to Nathan, who then ran it through the town passed the Carnegie Theatre and Blue Dolphin Cafe to Workington Hall.
Brian had already made his way to the hall as part of the plan and once he was in Nathan’s sights he passed the ball to Brian, which became his first time hailing the ball in 50 years of playing the game.
Nathan, 31, said: “A couple of uppies ran up to the hall with me and when we got there I was shouting where’s Brian, and I saw him coming down the path and I said here you are Bri, Merry Christmas!
“Since 2018 I told Brian the next ball I get is yours and ever since I’ve played to get him a ball and it only took eight games to get him it.”
In the 2018 games, Nathan managed to score a hat-trick of hails making him the first person in recorded history to do so.
Nathan dedicated those hailed balls to Brian’s son and Nathan’s good friend – Carl Fearon, who died in 2012 aged 24.
He said: “I was friends with Carl and when he passed away I was determined to get the ball for him so I got the full series for him and after that is when I said I’d get the next ball for Brian who wanted it in memory of his son.
“When I got my three it hadn’t been done before and I felt absolutely amazing, it was indescribable, but being able to help someone out, it was a completely different feeling if not more powerful and much better.
“Even all the Downies were chuffed for him so even they came to celebrate with us afterwards.”
Taking to Facebook after the incredible win, Nathan also shared a text he had sent to Brian the Friday before the Tuesday match saying he had already dreamt they had walked the ball up together – making the hailed ball even more of a dream come true moment.
For Brian, hailing the ball was a lifelong ambition after playing the game since being a small child and only ever getting briefly hold of the ball during games.
He said: “It felt absolutely unbelievable, I don’t have the words to describe it, I’ve been playing for a lot of years and for that to happen was absolutely brilliant.
“Our Carl played his last game in 2012 and to have it in his memory it is an absolutely amazing feeling. I always said to Carl before he died we’d get a ball and I believe if he had not died he would have definitely got a ball, he was one fit, quick lad.
“I honestly said to him you’ll get a ball no bother because you got the legs to run one off the Cloffocks. Unfortunately it didn’t happen, but it would have and I’m sure he’ll be looking down and thinking get in there.”
Brian said that hailing the ball was both an emotional and exciting moment and that it meant the world to him to be able to do it.
He added: “Nathan dedicated the three balls he hailed in 2018 to Carl and that in itself was a really nice gesture, it could not have been nicer and in that same year he said to me the ball is yours next mate and I said oh no we won’t do that, but he was persistent.
“He’s an absolute legend Nathan, I’ve got to give him all the credit for this ball, it’s just brilliant. It’ll remain with me for the rest of my life and it’ll be passed on to my daughter and granddaughter.
“Unless you actually play you don’t know what it means for a player to get a ball it is just magical, absolutely magical. But all my family although they don’t play, they know what it means for me to get it.
“We’ve spoke on the phone a few times me and Nathan since and he said have you come down yet and I said no, I haven’t and I don’t know when I will, It’s just an incredible feeling.”
After the game, Brian and Nathan celebrated until the early hours and Brian said that it was difficult for him to sleep afterwards because of all the excitement.
He added: “I’ve dreamt about hailing it for years and what you would do and not do and you in the moment you don’t want to drop the ball!
“I’ve seen over 100 balls hailed up and down and you think, why aren’t they scoping it up and taking the moment but you just don’t want to drop it. It’s the emotion afterwards that really hits you.
“I’ve had so many supportive messages since and I can’t thank people enough for the support from both Uppies and Downies, it’s phenomenal.”
Ahead of Saturday’s game which marks the last match of the year, Both Nathan and Brian are planning to play again.
Brian said: “Uppies and Downies has been my life. You live year to year for it, I’ve cancelled holidays to stay for Uppies and Downies at Easter. My wife is always like oh we can’t go away then, it’s Uppies and Downies!
“I’ve been playing since I was 10 or 11 and before that I was on my dad’s shoulders. A lot of people say to me, you’re still doing down? You’re 61 what are you doing going down there and I say well I just love it.
“Every year my wife always says you’re retiring aren’t you and I say yeah and then she says you’re going back aren’t you and I say yep! It’s either in your blood or it isn’t and honestly it’s right through me.
“The amount of people I’ve seen where the ball lands at their feet and next thing you know they’re in the beck – they don’t have to, they could walk away, but it’s got that magnetic pull to it and they just have to be part of it and I’m amazed at the crowds of people coming down to see it now.
“In the late 80s I thought it was dying off, there was a 10-year period where I worried we would lose it and I hope it never happens, its been going 300 years and long may it carry on.
“We’ll be going for a drink tonight and Saturday of course it’s a new day and ball and obviously the Downies will be wanting that ball badly, they won’t want it three in a row, so it should be a good game.”
Photos from Tuesday’s game are here.
Join us tonight – Saturday April 15 – for the final game in the Uppies and Downies 2023 series – we’ll be bringing you live updates as they happen!
