A Warwickshire town kicked off its ancient Shrove Tuesday ball game following a two-year break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 822nd Atherstone Ball Game involved hundreds of people competing on the streets for ownership of a heavy, leather ball.

Rob Bernard, chairman of the organising committee, said: “We are absolutely delighted that it is back on now.”

Josh Sheldon, from Grendon, was named the winner after the two-hour match.

Mr Sheldon said it had been easy to hold on to the ball at the end – as he had hid it under his T-shirt.

“It had popped and then I quickly took it and put it under my T-shirt and me and my friend were just in a deep hug,” he said.

People had been “extremely excited” about the return of the game, which gains international attention, Mr Bernard added.

“It’s a unique event really, there’s a lot of people interested in it,” he said.

A football match was disrupted by an unusual pitch invader when an alpaca bounded on to the field.

Carlton Athletic’s tie against Ilkley Town in West Yorkshire on Saturday was halted for 15 minutes when Oscar escaped from a nearby farm and joined the action.

Attempts were made to entice it off the pitch with food, before a farmer managed to shepherd it home.

After the bizarre delay, Ilkley went on to secure a 2-0 away win.

The sides play in the West Yorkshire League Premier Division, with Carlton, near Rothwell, “renowned” in the league for having alpacas nearby, Ilkley manager Simon Armstrong said.

“After 35 minutes it escaped, came through the entrance and proceeded to get on the pitch. The referee stopped the game,” he said.

“People didn’t want to go near it in case it kicked. The farmer was then called and eventually it was tempted back in the field.”

An exhibition on the history of football in south Tyneside – featuring a rare 100-year-old photo of a cup winning women’s team – has opened.

More than a Game showcases memorabilia, cups, kits and photos from the 19th Century to present day.

Highlights include a cartoon of tough player “Bumper” Towell and a snap of a women’s cup winning team with England player Mary Lyons from 1919. The free exhibition is at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery.

Archaeologists were left stunned when they uncovered a near 2,000-year-old shoe which looks just like the Adidas Predator football boot famously worn by David Beckham.

The distinctive ridges on the shoe’s outer shell and curved space for laces winding down to the toe give it an uncanny resemblance to the 21st century trainer.

The ancient sneaker was discovered in a ditch at Roman fort Vindolanda close to Hexham, Northumberland