PITCH PERFECT
Inside bizarre football league where every single game is home match with unique pitches hosting four divisions at once
One top star played in the league in completely different position
A BIZARRE football league sees teams play every game at home - with unique pitches hosting FOUR divisions at once.
The Bristol Downs League was formed almost 120 years ago and takes place every Saturday afternoon.
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No less than 41 amateur teams, comprised of over 1,500 players, gather at 2pm on one giant field to compete across four divisions.
Incredibly, over 400 matches are played per season at the Clifton Downs, a massive 442-acre open parkland situated on top of Bristol’s Avon Gorge.
The huge space, which spreads to Durdham Down, is divided into 32 football fields parked right alongside each other, allowing multiple matches to be played at the same time.
It means no team ever really plays away from home, with all fixtures effectively taking place in the same spot.
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The Bristol Downs League was created way back in 1905 and has seen a host of sports stars take part over the years.
Former England and Arsenal captain Eddie Hapgood was one of the biggest football stars to ply his trade there in the early 1920s.
Ex-England cricket skipper Wally Hammond could also be found there trying his hand at the beautiful game nearly a century ago.
While former Scotland and Celtic goalie Jonathan Gould has fond memories of the Downs — having played there as a STRIKER.
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He told : “The weather was not always great up on the Downs, it’s a little bit exposed.
“It’s incredible to think so many people come up here on a weekend and enjoy the game of football.
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“How do we keep this going so in 100 years it’s still here? Maybe we put some money into it and keep it alive.
“The refs want to be here, the players want to be here. It’s part of the culture of Bristol Saturday afternoons — it’s incredible.”
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