World record the goal for Harper Macleod footballer’s charity challenge

Jamie Duff, a dispute resolution solicitor in Harper Macleod’s Inverness office, is getting ready to play a starring role in a special kind of football match.

From Saturday 4 July until Wednesday 8 July, the 27-year-old and his friends will attempt to break the world record for the longest ever 11-a-side football match.

The epic challenge is in honour of his footballer friend Craig Gowans, who died in a training ground accident 10 years ago while with Falkirk FC, aged only 17.

The Craig Gowans Memorial Fund was established shortly after Craig’s death by his friends and family, to ensure that his memory lived on.

Mr Duff said: “Craig loved football, so his friends and family wanted to do something that was football-related and represented a substantial challenge, which would both benefit others and ensure a lasting legacy for Craig.

“We decided on breaking the official world record for the longest 11-a-side football match whilst fundraising for the building of a state-of-the-art Snoezelen room in Craig’s name, which will be the first of its kind in Scotland and will help children throughout Scotland for decades to come.”

Two 18-man teams will aim to play football continuously for more than 102 hours, the record set just a few weeks ago at Southampton FC’s St Mary’s stadium.

Even if none of the players get injured, it will be equivalent to six marathons in four days for each player, or playing a full premier league football season in one stint.

The players were aiming to raise £37,000, in recognition of Craig’s No.37 jersey at Falkirk. However, incredibly they have already raised more than £40,000 towards building the Snoezelen room at the new Sick Kids hospital in Little France, Edinburgh.

If you’d like to support Jamie and the teams, please visit his Just Giving page.