Chris Strickland

Jedburgh, Scottish Borders, UK. 22nd February 2018. The annual game of hand ba’ in the Scottish town of Jedburgh takes place every year the Thursday after Fastern’s E’en. The tradition derives from 1548 when a party of Scots recaptured Ferniehirst Castle, a mile south of Jedburgh and used an Englishman’s head in a celebratory game after the battle. Those born south of the towns Mercat Cross play for the ‘Uppies’ scoring at the Castle Jail, conversely those born North play for the Doonies, scoring near the River Jed. The knack of the game is to smuggle the ball through team members, through any means possible, there are no rules as such really.