Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > Alternative Sport > A Boxing Day match with a difference

A Boxing Day match with a difference

By Caroline King - December 18, 2019Posted in : Alternative Sport

Scarborough boasts one of the quirkiest Boxing Day celebrations in the UK, featuring a comic football match, a crazy raft race and a mile of pennies.

The Fishermen & Firemen's Boxing day event
A festive and merry football match

Said to be Scarborough’s oldest surviving custom, the Fishermen & Firemen’s Charity Football Match (aka the Comic Football Match) takes place at South Bay Beach. It has been played annually since 1893 to raise money for the Fishermen & Firemen’s Charity Fund, providing help for the elderly and infirm during the winter months.

It was originally started to help the widows and orphans of five Scarborough fishermen drowned at sea aboard the Evelyn and Maud. In 1893 huge storms raged on the North East coast and sadly the Evelyn and Maud never returned to port. With so many of the community widowed and orphaned by this tragic event, the Mayor set up a fund to help them.

The game itself is a somewhat shambolic and light-hearted one, which is why it is known as the Comic Football Match. The players wear either red for firemen or white for fishermen, and top hats. The only rule is that if your top hat falls off a free kick is awarded to the opposing team. The players tend to be a tad merry, as they make a tour of the houses and pubs in the old town for ‘refreshments’ before the game. As a result, the teams usually forget the score at the final whistle.

This year’s charity match will kick off at 10.30am, with tunes from the Comic Band as the players parade onto the beach.

Following the match, at 12.30pm, the Crazy Raft Race will take place with a grand paddle off in the harbour.

There will also be a mile of pennies starting from the Lifeboat House, lined up along the seafront kerb. Head along and add yours to the impressive line up!

When: 26th December 2019, from 10am
Where: South Bay Beach, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
£: Free to watch but donations towards the Fishermen & Firemen’s Charity Fund are welcome

More info: www.facebook.com/boxingdayscarborough

Related Posts

  • Ball game takes over the Kirkwall streets
  • Pints and prams in Pagham

Tagged With: Boxing Day events, Christmas events, Free events, Yorkshire

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

The World Egg Throwing Championships are no yolk
World Egg Throwing Championship 2016

Are you a tosser? If so, you may want to head to Lincolnshire this weekend as the 15th World Egg Throwing Championships takes place…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2022 · Contrary Life