Geograph - photograph every grid square

The sculpture NZ3528 : Sedgefield: Shrove Tuesday ball game sculpture is flanked by the tall tower of St Edmund's Church. The story of this pancake day ball game, reputedly between 700 and 1000 years old, is told on the Heritage Trail website Link and on wikipedia Link
It starts when an honoured guest passes the small ball (just bigger than a cricket ball) three times through the Bull Ring NZ3528 : Sedgefield Bull Ring, Town Green and then throws it to the players. Originally contested by two teams, The Tradesmen and The Countrymen, it has now become a free for all Link
The leather ball is said to bear the inscription:
'When with pancakes you are sated/Come to this ring where you'll be mated/Where this ball will be uncast/May this game be better than the last' Link
However, on the day, not a lot is apparently seen of the ball and reading an inscription is last on the minds of the contestants.
Spot the Ball - 2006 photos are here Link (Archive Link )
News reports indicate that nothing much had changed in 2011 Link