Runcorn Linnets have completed a hat-trick of new signings before kicking off their new league season tomorrow at Droylsden.

Teenage striker Niall Watson (pictured with club secretary Tracy Measor) arrives on loan from League One newconers Accrington Stanley.

He is joined at The Millbank Linnets Stadium by 20-year-old defender Seun Oduwaiye and former AFC Liverpool midfielder Bobby Evans,  23.

Niall is the 18-year-old son of former Runcorn AFC/Runcorn FC Halton player and manager, Liam Watson and already has two EFL appearances to his credit, both as a substitute.

Having been spotted by Accrington scouts in Sunday League football, Niall quickly showed his worth in the Lancashire club's Academy.

His first-team debut came, aged 17, last September when he came off the bench in a home Football League Trophy victory over Middlesbrough U21s.

Niall's League debut followed with a 76th-minute introduction at Exeter City in November.

He also appeared for the first team at Grimsby Town, just before New Year, and earned a first professional contract, signed this summer.

Able to play anywhere across the front positions, Niall has proved himself to be very much in the mould of his dad - not just in physical appearance.

He was leading scorer for Stanley's Youth team, being described by Academy manager, Paul Lodge as a good athlete.

Niall joins Linnets on the eve of our maiden EVO-STIK League West campaign having already had a loan spell in the competition's Premier Division last season.

He made four appearances for Marine, another club which dad Liam, now back at Southport for a fourth spell as Sandgrounders manager, served as a player.

Linnets pre-season trialist Seun, who is known as Shay, played at youth and first team levels for Cardiff-based Welsh League Division One club Caerau (Ely) in 2017-18.

He made two senior appearances and also played 12 matches for their Under 19 Welsh League Youth Cup winning team, scoring four goals with three assists.

A 6ft 3in right-footed centre back, he spent eight months from July 2017 to March 2018 at the FBT International Football Academy in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. This is a full youth development academy owned by a sportswear manufacturer in Thailand and has partnerships with professional clubs in the UK and overseas.

The player spent part of this pre-season with Marine.

Bobby Evans is the most experienced of the new recruits and has been involved for AFC Liverpool against Linnets.

He first appearance for AFC in September 2015 was in a 3-3 draw against 1874 Northwich at Marine Travel Arena.

Bobby was at Witton Albion in the lead up to the new season but then picked up a knee injury.

He is a versatile midfielder with a really good range of passing.

We offer a warm welcome to Bobby, Niall and Shay, wishing them an enjoyable stay with the Linnets.

Runcorn beat Hallam FC in the The Emirates FA Cup - Extra Preliminary Round at Sandygate Road with a score of 0-2. Freddie Potter scored for the Linnets in the 29th minute with an awesome header from the edge of the 6 yard box that was unstoppable. Louis Corrigan increased the Linnets' lead following a well-taken penalty that was unstoppable in the 86th minute.

Match Report

After an earlier announcement that Matt Atherton had left the club, we are very pleased to report that our record appearances holder Matt Atherton has signed forms for Runcorn Linnets once again.

He will, however, be with us on a dual registration with Euxton Villa, the West Lancashire League club he rejoined this summer in a player-coaching capacity, having served them in his youth.

The Hallmark Security League's reigning Player of the Year will enhance Runcorn Linnets' goal threat after joining for their EVO-STIK League debut.

Zack Dale was voted the outstanding individual performer over the 2017-18 North West Counties Premier Division season and has now signed for the club which won the title.

He arrives at Linnets after netting 34 times for Barnoldswick Town last season, earning more man-of-the-match awards than any other player in the Step 5 league.

Zack's scoring exploits earned him a summer return to Step 2 - with Ashton United, from where the striker/attacking midfielder has been recruited by Linnets on dual registration.

Zack, pictured with Linnets' club secretary Tracy Measor, is the second Vanarama National League North striker to also register with Runcorn this pre-season - the first being Adam Gilchrist, who is on the books of FC United of Manchester.

23-year-old Zack, born and bred in Burnley, is fresh from enjoying his best ever campaign in a career which has seen service to clubs on both sides of the Pennines.

He spent a year and a half at Barlick after returning to the game with Nelson, having sat out two seasons with a medial collatoral knee ligament rupture sustained while playing for Clitheroe.

Prior to that, Zack had been with Guiseley in Conference North and he has also played for Silsden and Colne.

Playing in all but two of Barnoldswick's 50 games last season, Zack finished fifth in the North West Counties top flight's goal charts.

He picked up 18 man of the match nominations on opposition votes - a single yellow card being the only blemish on an excellent disciplinary record over 48 appearances.

Welcome to Runcorn Linnets, Zack!

Manager Michael Ellison has outlined in a message to Runcorn Linnets supporters the importance of our new Patrons Fund to further developing the club's title-winning first team.

He says:

"On behalf of the club and especially myself and all the management team, I'd first of all like to thank those fans who have already committed to our new Patrons Fund.

For those who are unaware, the new scheme was launched earlier in pre-season and is similar to initiatives already running at neighbouring/rival clubs to further support the manager by generating funds to finance the team.

Fans can pledge money either by a regular monthly payment or a one-off donation and every penny will help us to achieve our goals.

Fundraising and sponsorship is, in the current financial climate, becoming ever more difficult so we are even more grateful to all the companies, organisations and indivuduals who continue to support us.

To those people who aren't already involved with the Linnets, we'd love to see you at our games to further increase our growing attendances or using our excellent facilities or media to promote your company.

We are fortunate at Runcorn Linnets to have a very strong supporter base for a club at our level and the backing we receive was a big factor in us winning the title last season.

However, we are now stepping up to a higher level and will be competing in The EVO-STIK League this coming season against established clubs with significant resources to invest in their teams.

As you may welll know, we are a fans-owned club and while that has its benefits in terms of the club being run by supporters, it does mean that at present, we don't have any major financial backer.

The Patrons Fund is an ideal way of generating extra funds to help with team building by supplenenting the money that we receive through the turnstiles, our 200 Club, draws and raffles and also through our commercial deals.

Every contribution to the Patrons Fund will assist with our squad building as it will be ringfenced specifically for that very purpose.

It will give us a greater chance of success and could make all the difference to our hopes of building on  last season's title win that much quicker.

The club has done everything it can to give us an improved budget to work with but, at the same time, we as a management team fully understand it cannot commit money it does not have or needs to keep in reserve.

There is so much more financial commitment in running a club beyond funding the team - as I am sure you can appreciate, paying utility bills, affiliation fees, insurance and maintaining or improving the stadium does not come cheaply.

We need as many of our fans as possible to embrace the fan-owned concept of our club by supporting, volunteering, contributing and investing in whatever way they can.

We have this summer received the commitment from the bulk of last season's team and also brought in some very good new signings.

If you would like to give the club and team the best possible opportunity of maintaining and continuing the progress that has already been made on the field and off, please subscribe if you can to our Patrons Fund through either a one-off donation or a regular contribution over the 2018-19 season.

Whatever you can afford, big amounts or small, will be very gratefully received and much appreciated by me, Crossy, Salty and Lawty as we look to take the team to the next level.

Thank you everyone for your support and let's ensure we all do our very best to keep moving forward as a club."

For further information and details of how to participate in the scheme see the Patrons Fund Page