At Ainslie Park in Edinburgh, earlier this month, a group of enthusiastic amateur footballers played soccer for an incredible 105 hours (4.4 days) and scored a Guinness World Record title for the Longest marathon playing football.
The epic match convincingly bettered the previous record - a 72-hour match played by Stockport Albion and Manchester Rovers (both UK) at Stretford High School, in Manchester, UK, back in 2013.
The record is now held by The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund (UK) which had already raised over £80,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation before the game – funds that will go towards vital developments in the new Sick Kids hospital at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The reason behind the football marathon was to honour Craig Gowans, the 17 year old Falkirk defender who sadly passed away in 2005 when training equipment he was holding connected with an overhead power cable.
The team was made up of Craig’s school friends. Prior to the game, Craig’s closest friend, Jonny Wallace, said, “Our goal is to play 105 hours finishing on the 8th, making this a four-day event and finishing on the 10th anniversary of Craig’s tragic passing.” They succeeded - and it was a moving moment.
Achieving the record was a tough test of endurance, but each player was at least allowed one hour’s break during the attempt so that they could wash, eat or nap.
Ex-Rangers, Hibernain and Scotland boss, Alex McLeish attended the event, as well as the current Scottish Cup holding manager, John Hughes. Footballers Scott Arfield and Thomas Scobbie were also there to cheer the players on. And the final score? 774-707!
Find out more at The Craig Gowans Guinness World Record Match website (TCGGWRM)