Crowds gather for annual river football match held in Bourton-on-the-Water

Footballers from Bourton Rovers fight for the ball during the annual traditional River Windrush football match. Credit: PA

Crowds gathered for the return of the annual traditional River Windrush football match in Gloucestershire Monday 28 August.

Footballers waded through water as part of the 100-year-old annual sporting event in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire.

The long-standing tradition sees goal posts placed into the shallow waters of the river, with the two sides – who are both part of Bourton Rovers Football Club – playing a 30-minute game.

The River Windrush football match has been taking place for over 100 years. Credit: PA

Right from the start of the match, the footballers battled it out to gain possession of the ball and seemed to make a splash with crowds, who looked on excitedly.

Players got stuck into the action quickly, with many running through the river to help team-mates and others trying to tackle their opponents to inch closer to the goal.

One player was seen pushing two opponents out of the way as he tried to make a beeline for the net.

In one particularly moment, a group of players were seen trying to get their foot on the ball at the side of the unconventional pitch as some took pictures and others stared with anticipation.