Bourton on the Water Football in the River

See the video & photos - The annual Bourton on the Water Football in the River proved more than worth getting soaked for, as two teams from Bourton Rovers Football Club provided a crowd-pleasing spectacular for another year running.

With more than 100 years of experience putting on a show-stopping sporting performance in the River Windrush, thanks to a rare glimpse of sunshine this summer’s Bourton-on-the-Water Football in the River scored a massive success with spectators from across Gloucestershire and beyond.

Crowds of thousands lined the river banks on Monday 27 August as the goal posts were constructed between the central bridges in the River Windrush, before the six-a-side Red and White teams from Bourton Rovers FC took to the water for a 30-minute match of splashes, soakings and a few goals to boot. The result was an entertaining display of football – the likes of which you’d be hard-pushed to find at any Premiership club across the country.

Bourton-on-the-Water Football in the River 2007 video

The rays of sun may have been shining long enough for spectators to set-up pre-match picnics and watch from the sidelines in shorts and sunglasses, but the shin-deep water remained icy cold for the two teams of brave, and some might say eccentric, members of the clubs’ senior teams. The teeth-chattering temperatures didn’t dampen the players’ spirits, however, and the sounds of onlookers shrieking with delight when the ball bounced off the cross-bar and screaming from being sprayed with streams of water could be heard for miles around the usually peaceful Cotswold village.

While both teams strived for a score, the day’s events predictably turned into a giant water fight involving all the players, the referee, and even some of the unfortunate spectators. Much of the front row on either side of the Windrush went home almost as wet as some of the sodden competitors, with a few well-prepared onlookers donning waterproofs to avoid the inevitable soaking that more than a century of tradition demanded.

With pushing, shoving, splashing and playful cries of ‘handball’, ‘foul’ and ‘are you blind?’ to the referee, the match was a closely fought battle between the two Bourton teams. As the referee blew the full-time whistle the score was 2-1 to the victorious Red team – who were not shy in their celebrations – dunking their opponents, soaking any spectator silly enough to still be standing at the water’s edge.

Having played in the annual water sport for ten years the dripping-wet Red team captain, Guy Stanton, said: ‘We are overjoyed to have won, it has been the highlight of the year. It’s been a great day and we’re glad so many people turned out to support us. I think we all deserve a well-earned pint now – well, maybe after we’ve dried off a bit!’

Bourton Rovers’ annual football match in the River Windrush might not have seen the spectacular life-risking bravery of Gloucester’s cheese rolling or the challenging physical endurance of Tetbury’s wool sack races, but for sheer entertainment and crowd interaction this is one Gloucestershire event which cannot be beat.

Bourton-on-the-Water Football in the River 2007 pictures

Michelle Byrne
27 August 2007