Stirling footballers set a world record
January 1970 saw a new world record set in Stirling.
Footballers aged 15 to 18 from the Alpha Youth Club in Fallin and Argyll Youth Club, Stirling, set the global mark after playing five-aside for more than 15 hours in a marathon effort at the former Drill Hall in Princes Street, Stirling.
Play had started at 2am one Saturday and teams took part in 45-minute sessions with a five-minute rest break between sessions.
More than 1000 goals were scored during the event and the record which had been held by a school in St Albans - was finally beaten at 5.38pm that Saturday.
Representing the Alpha team were: Frank Davies, Moss Road; William Finnie, Lamont Crescent; James Smith, Polmaise Crescent; William Stevenson, Queen Street, and John Weston, King Street, all Fallin.
Turning out for the Argyll club were: John Kelly, Craigforth Crescent; Brian McLaughlin, Gowanhill Gardens; Jim Neil, Hazelbank Gardens, Matt Turner, Craigforth Crescent, all Raploch and James Connelly, Hawthorn Crescent, Fallin.
During the marathon, the boys needed plenty of “fuel” and to keep going they downed three gallons of orange squash, five loaves, three dozen chocolate cakes, six pounds of glucose, two pounds of tomatoes and a similar quantity of cheese.
However, although the marathon effort was conducted in accordance with rules laid down by the Guinness Book of Records, it didn’t go unchallenged.
A week later, the Observer reported that the football marathon record had been disputed by the St Alexander’s Boys’ Club, Denny who claimed the record because the previous year they had played 11 hours and 17 minutes nonstop and the two clubs claiming the record in Stirling had a five-minute break every 45 minutes.