Before penalty shoot-outs were introduced to prevent FA Cup ties going more than two matches there were often some marathon matches.
The longest was back in the 1971/72 season when then-Midland Combination minnows Alvechurch were paired with Isthmian Premier side Oxford City in a Fourth Qualifying Round tie.
Little did the two teams realise when they stepped out for the original tie on Saturday, November 6th, 1971 that it would take 11 hours to decide the outcome over SIX matches!
A crowd of 1,343 saw the initial tie end in a 2-2 draw – Bobby Hope (not the former Scottish international who went on to manage Bromsgrove Rovers etc) and Ian Horne being the `Church scorers and Peter McCrae and veteran John Woodley, who went on to make over 900 appearances for City and score more than 500 goals, replying.
Three days later the sides met again at the White House Ground and even extra-time couldn`t separate the sides as they shared a 1-1 draw.
Tommy Eales was City`s scorer that evening, with Graham Allner (right) replying – Allner, of course, went on to become a hugely successful manager with Kidderminster Harriers.
The third game was set for the following Monday, November 15th and the FA ordered it to be played at Birmingham City`s St Andrews ground.
Once more the tie went into extra-time in front of a crowd of 3,600 as winger Allner was once again Alvechurch`s hero.
The teams had to drag themselves to a third replay, this time at Oxford United`s Manor Ground.
And once more, it went to the full 120 minutes available but this time with neither side able to find a goal for the 2,300 watching.
Familiarity was causing the teams to cancel each other out and the fifth game of the saga was again hosted by Oxford United as City won the toss for choice of venue.
But Saturday, November 20th, again produced no goals in 120 minutes for the 1,500 crowd.
Oxford suffered a blow on a day when ice and bitter cold was causing problems for the players when Eric Metcalfe suffered a broken leg.
Monday, November 22nd, 1971 was the day that Alvechurch finally managed to cause the `upset` that was tipped to happen 16 days earlier in the fifth replay played at Aston Villa`s famous Villa Park.
This time an 18th minute Hope effort eventually proved enough to take Alvechurch through to meet Fourth Division Aldershot at The Recreation Ground.
Alvechurch were the first Midland Combination team to reach the FA Cup First Round Proper, but, staggeringly, the non-League side were given only one day's rest before the Aldershot tie and the players were basically knackered!
Remember these were the times before `squads` when clubs had a first team consisting of 13/14 players and if they had injuries or suspensions, lads had to be brought in from the reserves or `A` teams.
Alvechurch possess a place in the Guinness Book of Records that will never be beaten due to the change of ruling by the FA, mainly as a consequence of ties like the one against Oxford City.
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