Runcorn Linnets F.C.

Runcorn Linnets
Full name Runcorn Linnets Football Club
Nickname(s) The Linnets
Founded 28 April 2006
Ground Millbank Linnets Stadium
Ground Capacity 1,600
Chairman Derek Greenwood
Manager Michael Ellison
League North West Counties League Premier Division
2015–16 North West Counties League Premier Division, 2nd

Runcorn Linnets F.C. are an English football club based in Runcorn, Cheshire. The club currently plays in the North West Counties League Premier Division, the ninth tier of English football, and is a full member of the Cheshire County Football Association. The club is run by a trust, which is an Industrial and Provident Society, and is registered with the Financial Services Authority.[1]

History

The club was formed on 28 April 2006 as a replacement for the town's previous club, Runcorn F.C. Halton, which had resigned from the Northern Premier League due to financial difficulties. The original Runcorn club's biggest success had been winning the 1981–82 Alliance Premier League title, although they failed to reach the Football League as the league's members had voted against them joining. The club is run by the Supporters Trust, which had been set up as "The Linnets Independent Supporters Trust", and the new club joined two levels further down the football pyramid, in the North West Counties Football League Division Two, having been accepted into the league on 17 June. A groundshare with Witton Albion was arranged at the start of the 2006–07 season, until a suitable ground could be found in Runcorn.[2] This was achieved in 2010, when the club moved into a newly built ground on Murdishaw Avenue and named it the Millbank Linnets Stadium as part of a three-year sponsorship deal.

Steve Carragher who had played for and managed Runcorn FC Halton, joined the club as manager,[2] with Mark Philips as his assistant player-manager. Several players from the old club also joined the Linnets. Their first game was a 4–0 away win against Ashton Town, followed by a 5–0 victory at home to Castleton Gabriels. Runcorn finished their inaugural season as runners-up, losing out on the league title to Winsford United on goal difference, and won promotion to the First Division. Thomas Lamb finished the season as top scorer, with 22 goals in all competitions.

In the 2007–08 season, Linnets spent most of their time in mid-table. They won their first ever FA Vase game against Daisy Hill, before losing to Salford City in the First round. After a string of poor results, the board decided that a change of management was needed and Steve Wilkes was appointed as manager in January 2008. They finished the season 12th out of 20 clubs. During the close season, the league was restructured with the First Division becoming the Premier Division. In the 2008–09 season Linnets entered the FA Cup for the first time, winning their first game 3–2 at home to Rossington Main on 17 August 2008. In the next round they lost 4–0 to Curzon Ashton on 30 August.[2] Recently the club have announced a youth team in every age group up to the under 16s. In 2011–12 they are the only team from the NWCFL to get to the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Cup.[3]

Stadium

The club used to groundshare with Witton Albion at the Wincham Park stadium in Northwich. However, they had a stated aim to move back to Runcorn with a new stadium project – R2R (Return 2 Runcorn). A working party was established to work towards the move. The club had been in discussion with Riverside College about leasing a plot of land at the Runcorn Campus, but this proposal was rejected. The next plan involved a move to Halton Sports in Murdishaw, Runcorn for the start of the 2010–11 season, and this has now been completed, largely due to the backing of the local council. The club's aims were to build a ground that would meet the Northern Premier League standard, together with a Community centre which would be used as the clubhouse on matchdays. The club also want to include an all-weather pitch on the site for use by local sporting organisations and groups.[4] The opening match took place on Saturday 17 July 2010 at 3pm (BST). This match was a friendly against Witton Albion, partly as old rivals but mainly as an appreciation of their help in establishing a base for Runcorn Linnets FC in its foundation years.[5]

Honours

NWCFL League Cup:
* Champions: 2012/13

Players

As of 5th December 2015.[6]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
– England GK Tom Hunt
– England DF Chris Lawton
– Nigeria DF Vita Mbdokele
– England DF Kevin McGrath
– England DF Arron Morris
– England DF Danny McKenna
– England DF Jay Roberts
– England DF Andy Thorpe
– England MF Sean Carlson
– England MF Kyle Hamid (Capt)
– England MF Tony Donaldson
No. Position Player
– England MF Ronnie McCarthy
– Republic of Ireland MF Danny O'Brien
– England MF Adam Wade
– England FW Mark Houghton
– England FW Anthony Hickey
– England FW Allan Collins
– England FW Taylor Kennerley
– England FW Bevan Burey
– England FW Steve Foster
– England FW Paul Shanley

Non-playing staff

As of 5th December 2015.[7]
Name Role
England Derek Greenwood Chairman
England Mark Buckley Vice-Chairman
England Lynn Johnston Club Secretary
England David Bettley Trust Secretary
England Michael Ellison First Team Manager
England Matty Cross First Team Assistant Manager
Guernsey Lee Luscombe Goalkeeping Coach
England Carl Rutter Club Senior Physiotherapist
England Jon Urquhurt Kit Manager

Attendances

Averages

The average home league game attendance for the 2015–16 season was 324, placing Runcorn Linnets 1st for the division, and is an decrease of 10.8% from the previous season.

Past averages:

Source: Tony Kempster's site Non-League Matters NW Counties Football League site

League history

Season Division Position Significant Events
Joined the North West Counties Football League in 2006
2006–07 NW Counties Division Two 2nd Promoted
2007–08 NW Counties Division One 12th
2008–09 NW Counties Premier Division 11th
2009–10 NW Counties Premier Division 11th
2010–11 NW Counties Premier Division 12th
2011–12 NW Counties Premier Division 5th
2012–13 NW Counties Premier Division 6th
2013–14 NW Counties Premier Division 2nd
2014–15 NW Counties Premier Division 2nd
2015–16 NW Counties Premier Division 2nd

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Trust Information". Runcorn Linnets F.C. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "A History of Runcorn Linnets FC". Runcorn Linnets F.C. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  3. ↑ "FA Cup 1st.QR Replay – Runcorn Linnets 1 Squires Gate 0". NWCFL. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  4. ↑ "Return 2 Runcorn – Runcorn Linnets New Stadium Project". Runcorn Linnets F.C. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
  5. ↑ "The Opening of the Millbank Linnets Stadium – 17th July 2010". Runcorn Linnets F.C. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  6. ↑ "The Players". Runcorn Linnets F.C. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  7. ↑ "Club Officials". Runcorn Linnets F.C. Retrieved 2010-09-12.

Coordinates: 53°19′00″N 2°40′11″W / 53.3168°N 2.6696°W / 53.3168; -2.6696

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