Richard Hodgson has ensured the Uppies gained the upper hand in the 2024 mass football game series.
Richard hailed the ball at the gates of Workington Hall – without many people realising.
The no rules game, which dates back hundreds of years, is played in Workington every Easter. The Uppies have to get the specially made leather ball to the hall, while the Downies have to get it to the docks.
There are three games in the series and the first, on Good Friday, was won by Uppie John Irving. In game two, the Downies came back fighting and Dan Fryer equalled the score.
But the final game yesterday, Saturday April 6, saw Richard Hodgson sneak away after around three-and-a-half hours of intense play on The Cloffocks, where the scrum hardly moved, to Workington Hall.
Picture: Tom Kay Photographic
He pulled a feint in the scrum, shouting ‘what’s that?’ while pointing a player’s feet. That move caused the scrum to scatter and mass confusion ensued, as no one knew where the ball was.
It turns out Richard had gone the long way round and got into Hall Park via the skate park, off Ramsay Brow.
It’s the second ball Richard has hailed, having previously won a game in 2012.
Richard’s victory means Uppies have won the 2024 series, and players will now look forward to 2025.
