Two football teams today achieved their bid to beat the world record for the longest football match by playing for a staggering – 57 HOURS.
The Leeds Badgers and Warwick Wolves kicked off their match on Friday at 11am and blew the final whistle on Sunday at 8pm – after scoring 779 goals between them.
Their football marathon is the equivalent of playing 38 full 90-minute games, the same as a whole Premiership season.
The previous records for the longest match was 42 hours and five minutes which was set by players in the Gulf state of Qatar in May.
Former Wales and Liverpool striker Ian Rush – who contracted Meningitis when he was six – backed the match, which has so far raised £5,000 for the illness.
He said: ”What the two teams are doing is a fantastic achievement for English football and also the Meningitis Trust.
”I’m so proud of what they guys are doing, raising awareness of this awful disease but also raising vital funds to help the Trust to continue its much needed work.
”I’m urging everyone to dig deep into their pockets and to donate to this worthwhile cause, the guys are putting football and meningitis on the map.
”They’re an inspiration to us all.”
Students from Warwick University organised the match to raise fund for the Meningitis Trust after former player Jamie Burdett died of the illness three years ago.
The two teams of 18 played continuously with players only being allowed a five minute break every hour.
Each player rotated with substitutes but were not allowed to leave the pitch side.
The teams played through the night and players slept in tents for a few hours when they needed a rest.
Leeds won the match with 425 goals compared to Warwick’s 354.
The previous last longest game in England that took place between the Cotswold All Stars and Cambray FC in Cheltenham, Glos., and lasted 35 hours.
The match finished 33-293 to the All Stars but the record was beaten a few weeks later by the two teams in Qatar.
Good stuff – and nice that they raised some money for charity.
It always interests me to note, however, the value of the labour – 2x 18 men, multiplied by 57 hours is 2052 man-hours. At minimum wage, this would generate just under £10,000. I know one can’t go to sleep at work – or even legally work 57 hours in one stint, so just being a geek, really.
Well done boys!