THEY say it’s a game of two halves.

But a 55 and a half hour football match at Blackburn Youth Zone looks like it’s heading for the world record books.

A group of 16 players, from Blackburn College, the Youth Zone and companies mda, Forbes, Napthens, Graham and Brown and Exertis Micro P hope they’ve smashed the record for the longest five-a-side game.

They played for more than two days without stopping, exceeding the previous record by two and a half hours.

The players, and staff at the £6million Youth Zone in Jubilee Street, are now waiting with baited breath for official confirmation of the record from Guinness.

Events manager at the Youth Zone Laura Jones said: “We are absolutely delighted to have played over the current record attempt time. The Zone is very proud of everyone who took part.

“The team have been stoic in their determination to carry on despite tiredness, aches and pains.”

The event, sponsored by Star Tissue and Iceberg Supplements, saw young leaders Abdul Noor, Haroon Sabir and Connor Buller lace up their boots for the bid, which started at 9am on Saturday and ended at 4.30pm on Tuesday.

Head of finance at marketing company mda, Roger Swansbury, broke his toe scoring the last goal of the match.

He said: “It was an awesome event to take part in, even though I’m really tired and sore.”

The Youth Zone’s chief executive Peter Little, added: “This attempt is an incredible example of our patrons getting involved alongside our members to make the Blackburn Youth Zone magic happen.

“It also shows that young people in the town can be the best in the world, with support from our fantastic patrons, founder patrons, and wider supporter ‘family’.”