Sister act, brotherly love and a push from Mum makes Atherstone Ball Game 2020 'one for the family album'

The best kept secret of this year's Atherstone Ball Game is finally out in open play.

For the 2020 version of the town's single biggest claim to worldwide fame will be down – in big part – to a mother of six who believed in "keeping the faith" of a sporting tradition passed down the generations across ten centuries of time.

Jillian Bickley always took her children to witness a spectacle which began in 1199 – when King Richard the Lionheart was on the throne of England, although he spent most of his 10 years as monarch fighting on foreign soil in the Crusades of the Middle Ages.

To matriarch Jillian, the Ball Game was "all about family", recalls her second daughter Lou Hadley.

Lou, 38, said: "Mum always made sure we went to the game.

"I can vividly remember my brothers Ricky and Jimmy going in the pushchair about 25 years ago and the excitement of the day meant everything to us.

"It was THE occasion of the year in Atherstone for the family – where they came together to watch something that countless generations had been doing for more than 800 years."

And for Lou's family it will be extra special this year as she returns to enjoy a grandstand view of the occasion she normally watches "from the thick of it".

The ex-restaurant manager at Britain's former number one tribute emporium La Tavola Calda has been away from her home town of Atherstone for a number of years.

After leaving the Nuneaton entertainment palace, she went first to Morecambe and then to work at the Parkdean resort in Windermere.

Back in Atherstone in time for the Ball Game, she now finds herself part of the family that has taken on the onerous task of running the event after eight years under the chairmanship of funeral director David Evans.

Lou's 40-year-old sister Janneen Bernard is the new secretary of the event while her husband Rob Bernard has taken on the top job from Mr Evans.

The phrase 'sister act' springs to mind – coincidentally the name of Janneen's hairdressing business in Browns lane, Dordon – but Lou told Nub News: "It is much more than that.

"As a family we have always supported the event and now as a whole family we are behind making Atherstone Ball Game a success this year".

Lou and Janneen's three brothers have all taken part in the game in the past.

And Aaron Horton 20, and 30-year-old Ricky Eaton will be up for the challenge again tomorrow.

The remaining brother – 28-yar-old Jimmy Eaton – will be there in spirit but is currently on tour with the British Army in Iraq.

And to complete the 'family circle', Lou's ex-partner – and father of her 13-year-old daughter Amber – is none other than Dave Bernard, brother of chairman Rob.

"And Dave is one of the stewards for the event," added Lou.

"The Ball Game really is a family affair for us."

Lou, now a warehouse operative at Aldi, will be watching from upstairs at Atherstone Conservative Club when the ball is thrown to the waiting players by former Coventry City football stars Dave Bennett and Kirk Stephens.

The 821-year-old event starts at 3pm tomorrow and will be declared over at 5pm.

Nub News aims to bring you live coverage from all the action.