Hundreds flock to the Cotswolds village to watch bizarre football match in river
It is not clear how the idea of playing a football match in a river first arose
Hundreds of spectators gathered in the Cotswolds village of Bourton-on-the-Water to witness a unique football match that took place in a river. The annual Football In The River fixture, held in ankle-deep water of the Windrush, sees mixed teams from the Bourton Rovers men's squads and veterans compete over a 50-minute period. This tradition, reportedly spanning around 100 years, has seen the game continue despite waterlogging that usually forces other matches to be abandoned.
Despite a brief shower in the second half, the players and fans remained undeterred, with the match concluding in a 3-3 draw. The first XI led after scoring an injury-time equaliser, while the veterans pulled back a goal from a controversial penalty before halftime. The referee wore a Superman costume, and the game was officiated by Neil Teague, who donned the cap after retiring from refereeing for the event.
Fans were advised to wear waterproofs to stay dry as they lined the riverbanks to enjoy the annual spectacle.
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- Hundreds gather to watch river football match sports.yahoo.com
