Harry fans ready to go Potter potty for real-life quidditch...
HARRY Potter lovers rejoice – a real-life game of quidditch is coming to Manchester this weekend.
Some of the game’s most talented players will descend on the city tomorrow for the Quidditch Premier League northern division clash.
Inspired by JK Rowling’s hugely popular series, Quidditch has developed into its own sport, with 20,000 competing international players, 25 competing countries, and an international rulebook.
Unlike their wizzarding counterparts, the players, sadly, do not have magical powers which can make broomsticks fly – although they do still play with sticks between their legs.
It also sees a tennis ball in a sock double up as the ‘snitch,’ the smallest ball in the game, which flies around powered by silver wings in Harry Potter.
A quidditch team consists of 21 athletes, with seven players per team on the pitch at any one time.
The team has one keeper, three chasers, two beaters and one seeker.
The game is also designed to be inclusive for all, so has a ‘four maximum rule,’ which states that at most there can be four players of the same gender on pitch at one time.
Tomorrow’s fixture takes place at Platt Fields Park and features the Northern Watch, East Midland Archers, West Midland Revolution, Yorkshire Roses and Scottish Thistles teams.
The aim of the day is to determine the strongest teams in the UK and set their ranking in the championship. The QPL is an elite quidditch league which represents the sport in the UK.
In August, 10 teams from across the country will be competing to become national champions.
Manchester-based Northern Watch captain Fraser Posford said: “We laid good foundations in our first season and this season is about building on that. We have retained many of our key figures so we’re in a good place. I’m looking forward to the challenges the new season will bring.”
Northern Watch assistant coach Tua Karling added: “With so many of us playing for northern teams, I’m proud to showcase our talent and hopefully further the sport in the area.”
The fixture takes place in the park from 9am tomorrow.
For more information see quidditchpremierleague.com