AN ATTEMPT to break a world record in Basingstoke ended in defeat after 253 goals when footsore footballers ran out of steam.

A plan to break a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous game by playing for 41 hours – one hour more than the record – was halted after 18 hours when heat exhaustion and injuries took their toll.

As Inter Milan raised the Champions League trophy on May 22, Reds and Whites were battling at Everest Community College, in Oxford Way, Popley.

The game was abandoned at 2am when the white team went down to a minimum of seven players with others suffering from blisters and exhaustion.

The marathon event, which started at 8am on May 22, was organised by Fulham FC academy coach Mauricio Rojas in a bid to raise £10,000 for the Sport Relief charity to help transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people.

Mr Rojas, 33, from Colombia, said: “It was unfortunate but we couldn’t carry on.”

The two teams were allowed 11 players and seven subs each. Even though players came from as far afield as Aldershot, London and Colombia, as well as Basingstoke, last-minute drop-outs meant one team only started with 14 and the other with 13 players.

As the night drew in, the players became aware of sunburn from one of the hottest days of the year so far and the temperature then dropped dramatically.

The remaining players had less and less time to rest between substitutions and gradually became exhausted.

The game was called off after 18 hours and 20 minutes with a final score of 137 to the Whites and 116 to the Reds.

But Mr Rojas, who has been a football coach for 15 years and worked in Colombia, Paraguay, New Zealand and London, is not deterred.

He said: “I was really encouraged at the end because everyone was saying that although there was no way we could continue, they were willing to do it again and want me to organise it.

“We have heard of another two teams who played for 40 hours, but only on their third attempt.

“Another time we will be more prepared – a Guinness World Record isn’t easy to beat!”

He added: “Everest gave us great support before and during the event.

“But the surface was really hard on our feet and legs so another time we will try to go on normal grass or plastic grass.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation can go to justgiving.com/footballendurancemarathon.