By Chris Wright
It took them over four days to do it, but a group of 36 hardy charity employees have gone and set the new world record for the longest football match after staging a mammoth encounter at Southampton’s St. Mary’s stadium.
The two 18-man squads, the Reds and the Whites, were comprised of people involved with the Testlands Support Project, a community organisation set up to provide sporting opportunities for the children of Southampton.
The game began at 18:30 last Sunday evening and went on continuously until the final whistle sounded at 00:30 on Friday – thus bettering the previous record of 101 hours by an extra hour.
Over 1,600 goals were scored over the four-and-a-quarter-day affair, with the Reds resolving to edge out the Whites in a 910-725 thriller.
Many of the players played for gruelling 12-hour shifts before recharging their batteries in the row of tents lined up at pitchside. There was also a sports massage therapist on hand to help treat any niggles and knocks – of which there were a few!
Match organiser Luke Newman, who also turned out for the Whites, told the BBC Hampshire:
“The last time I slept was the night before last night and that was probably for about an hour.
“Monday night was so bad – I think it must have rained from about eight or nine o’clock in the evening, through to about 11 o’clock in the morning – it was just solid rain. We had to play for a 12-hour stint so we couldn’t change our clothes.
“The tents all got absolutely soaking wet. The clothes inside and the sleeping bags were just drenched.”
Nobody said it was going to be easy, Luke!
At least he can console himself in the fact that around £25,000 was raised for the Testlands Support Project’s summer activities fund, so a hearty well done to all involved.
Outstanding effort all round!
(Photo: Testlands Support Project/Facebook)