Uppies and Downies – it’s more than just a game.
The no rules mass football series is an Easter tradition in Workington.
The town splits into two tribes and for three nights it’s a game of skill, cunning and sometimes force of numbers.
We’ve been talking to Nutty Shepherd and Elvin Jarvis about the strength of feeling around the games and the place it holds in Workington’s history. It’s part of the town’s culture.
The lads said no one has ever really collected people’s stories about the game over the years – and we offered to help correct that.
Photographer Tom Kay has begun a documentary about the game and spoken to some stalwarts – he still needs more Downies. You can contact him via his Facebook page here.
We’ve already set up our Hailers Hall of Fame – a list of every hailer we can find from the 1800s (and it still needs more hailers! Please let us know who we’re missing)
Now, we want to collect a written record too and want to hear from you – your memories, your family’s involvement, your favourite game, your funny story. Now is your chance!
We would love to publish them and keep them recorded forever – Uppies & Downies own digital archive here on Cumbria Crack.
Just fill in this form below:
