The Old Boys bring the uniquely shaped ball forward during their match with the Senior Boys. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0875534)
IT IS regarded as ancestral to the world’s most popular game, but as Foote’s Lane witnessed last weekend, Harrow Football is a world away from the real thing.
For a start you would not want to head a Harrow ball, which is shaped like a giant pork pie and is more akin to a medicine ball than one of the modern-day balloons used in Division One in Guernsey and the Barclays Premier League.
Usually the game is played exclusively at the famous English public school, but for the second year running this most unusual of ball games has been taken to the Channel Islands.
Last year, it was Jersey who sampled it for the first time. Guernsey’s turn came courtesy thanks largely due to the efforts of Guernseyman and Old Harrovian Sean Martin.
‘The game was a great success … played in perfect wet conditions,’ said Martin.
‘There was only one serious injury with a Harrow boy having to visit A&E for a knee injury.
‘Us old boys have various bruised ribs, sprained ankles and aching limbs as it is a very physical game with barging and pushing and shoving all part of it.’
For the record, the current Senior Boys beat the Old Boys by three bases (goals) to two.
‘Not a bad result for us old chaps,’ said Martin.
‘The Bailiff came to watch and was very supportive, although his lovely Jaguar car was nearly seriously dented as he had parked it right behind the posts.’
So what is it all about?
Well, it is a code of football played between two teams of 11 players, each attempting to win by scoring more bases than their opponent.
Harrow football is played predominantly with the feet, but players may use any part of their body including, in certain circumstances, their hands and arms to propel the ball.
They can catch the ball with their hands if it has not touched the ground since it was kicked and the kick was not a forward pass from a fellow team member.
The leather ball is about 18in. in diameter and 12in. (300 mm) deep. It tends to soak up mud and water and become extremely heavy.
Typically, players attempt to move towards a base through individual control of the ball, such as by dribbling or passing before taking shots at the base, which is a set of rugby posts without the crossbar.
Tackling usually means barging, which must be done with the shoulder and must not be from so directly behind the opponent as to hit their back.
Unlike football, you are permitted to tackle, even if the opponent is not in possession.
One quirk of the game is known as ‘yards’.
The umpire places their yardstick on the pitch at the point that yards is called and the player who caught the ball may take any length of run-up, but may only take three strides after the yardstick has been reached.
After this, they may take a shot at goal or kick the ball up and back to another player on their team.
There is, naturally, a lot more to the game but it is not a good game without dinner and songs afterwards.
In visiting Guernsey, the touring Harrow boys and masters enjoyed their sing-song in the Elizabeth College hall, the music coming courtesy of Fiona Le Tissier, who accepted the not-so-easy task of learning it at short notice.
The Guernsey contingent on show on the pitch were Old Harrovians Martin, Advocate Garth Bainbridge and Philip Lepp, plus Elizabeth College’s new principal, George Hartley, Tim de Putron, a master, old boy Laurent Thibeault and current students Nick and Guy Craze.A return to the old days: Senior Boys overcome Old Boys three bases to two at Foote’s Lane
Article posted on 25th November, 2009 - 2.29pm
Most Commented: