OXFORD City hold the record for the longest-running FA Cup tie.

City and Alvechurch were embroiled 40 years ago in a marathon which lasted six games and 11 hours before being settled.

After five draws in the fourth qualifying round, the Worcestershire side finally made it through to the first round proper with a 1-0 victory.

The two clubs’ feat of endurance in November 1971 earned them a place in the Guinness Book of Records – and the record will never be broken.

The six matches were played at five different grounds – Alvechurch’s sloping Lye Meadow (2-2), Oxford City’s White House ground (1-1), St Andrew’s, Birmingham (1-1), Oxford United’s Manor Ground (0-0 and 0-0) and finally, Villa Park, Birmingham (1-0 to Alvechurch).

The games were played in the space of 17 days and at the end, Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis poured Champagne for the weary players and officials.

The players almost became ‘best mates’. During frequent stoppages for cramp and exhaustion, they chatted amicably on the pitch on first name terms.

One Alvechurch player said: “It was almost like going to work every day – same teams, same players, same results.”

Oxford City manager John Fisher said: “We got to know them so well that some people were suggesting we should agree to a merger.”

Watching all the action from the Press box was young Oxford Mail sports writer Jim Rosenthal, now, of course, a leading TV presenter.

Describing Bobby Hope’s 588th minute winning goal, he wrote: “Shocked that he had been given a chance of saving the attempt, (City goalkeeper) Peter Harris got his right hand to it, but the ball wriggled loose, hit him on the heel, and crawled like a scolded child just over the line.”

The City team was: Harris, Mitchell, Ramsden, Evans, Stokes, Freeman, Woodley, Bidmead, Eales, McCrae, Silto. Substitute: McBryde.

Alvechurch progressed no further in the competition. Their first round tie at Aldershot was played just two days after their triumph over City, and worn out, they lost 4-2.