Atherstone Ball Game claimed its first casualty before the start in the shape of new chairman Rob Bernard.

The 47-year-old, who also acted as chief marshall for the event, turned up at today's world famous spectacle sporting a shiner between his eyebrows.

And his wife, secretary Janneen Bernard, explained it was a a touch of pre-match knockabout with their 16-year-old son Jimmy that got out of control.

"Jimmy taunted his dad about being hard enough for one last challenge in the living room as a warm-up before the game.

"Rob went for i,t and flew over the ball and cracked his head on the window ledge," laughed Janneen.

Apart from that everything ran smoothly as the 821st 'fixture' got underway with ex-Coventry City stars Dave Bennett and Kirk Stephens thowing in the ball to the waiting players.

Nub News, enjoying its first outing at the ancient event, will bring full 'result' and more pictures flater today.