Runcorn Linnets have been given a home tie in the Extra Preliminary round of The Emirates FA Cup this season and will face Hemsworth Miners Welfare for the third time in six seasons in this round of the competition. The winners of this tie have received an away fixture in the Preliminary round with a trip to either Squires Gate or Ashton Athletic in the offing for the victors. The tie against Hemsworth is due to take place on Saturday the 5th of August at 3 p.m. at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.

The club are exempt in the Buildbase FA Vase competition until the First Round Proper.

Runcorn Linnets are looking to appoint a new first-team physiotherapist for the coming season and onwards.

Ideally, the successful candidate will have experience of sports therapy at Step 5 or above, and hold relevant physiotherapy, FA First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications.

If you have the drive to join the team at our ambitious club, please send your details with relevant CV in the first instance to [email protected]

Runcorn Linnets are very happy to report that regular supporter Ellis Clarke has taken over the editorship of the club's match day programme.

Ellis succeeds Mark Buckley in the role, giving our hard-working chairman one thing less to worry about!

The new incumbent will already be a familiar face through attendance at the Millbank Linnets Stadium and away from home.

But for those who don''t know him already, we invited Ellis to introduce himself.

Ellis said: 'I watched a handful of Runcorn games at Canal Street in the early 1980s as a stepping stone to my Mum letting me watch Everton with my mates… it seemed so cool and, to be fair, they were winning leagues back then.

'But now even when offered a free ticket for the Toffees, I'll decline and take my place at the Millbank or wherever we're playing at the time.'

He added: 'The most significant memory from Canal Street was my mate Robbie got Leo Skeete's sock ties at the end of one game… I was dead jealous of those two frayed strips of bandage!

'I've been coming to the Millbank since 22/10/11. A feisty FA Vase game against Barlick saw three red cards in the first half and Linnets losing by the odd goal in five.

'Given that I live (according to Google Maps) 94 metres from the Millbank, you might ask what took me so long to join the fun. I do too.

'Since then I've missed only a handful of home games and I go to most of the aways as well.'

Ellis has lived in Runcorn since 1974, excluding four years in the late '80s, and works in the health service.

'I'm a nurse by trade and my title is Matron. I have worked at Halton and then Warrington Hospitals for nearly 20 years, mainly in Intensive Care, although lately I've been working with the IT team,' added Ellis.

'The chairman has been doing a great job with the programme and I hope to carry that on. I am also planning to introduce some new features after looking at what works in other programmes and maybe reintroduce what has worked in the past in the Runcorn Review.

'I've already had a couple of good ideas offered to me and if anybody else has a thought for what they'd like to see then please let me know.

'I am @EllisClarke13 on Twitter or can send an email to [email protected]

Linnets chairman, Mark Buckley said: 'We are very grateful to Ellis for coming forward to become our new programme editor. It is a time-consuming but rewarding position and you are privileged to have a direct line to the supporters.

'Fans like Ellis, who are willing to out their hands up for vital volunteer roles, are just what we need to help us evolve and progress.

'I am sure the programme us in very safe hands and certain that Ellis will do a terrific job as he puts his own stamp on the role.'

Ellis' debut will come in pre-season with a combined edition covering all the home friendlies.

We had a dozen or so club officials and willing volunteers at our latest stadium working party today and were able to break the back of the work that needs doing at The Millbank ahead of the home friendlies next month.

Thanks to all concerned for their invaluable efforts in support of our ground maintenance group, who have clearly been putting in a lot of hours over the summer months.

Work was carried out against the backdrop of the Linnets' new clubhouse, which is continuing to take shape with brickwork starting to go up.

We will reconvene next Sunday at 11am and hope to see another good turnout, with perhaps some new faces, as pre-season preparations continue.

Runcorn Linnets have welcomed their newest - and youngest - Trust member into the football family.

Baby Jack Thomas Bignall was signed up this morning by proud dad, Ste at just a day old.

Jack is a second child for Ste and wife, Claire and came into the world two weeks early, weighing in at Whiston Hospital yesterday at a healthy 8lb 12oz.

Despite arriving ahead of schedule, Ste and Claire were both clearly well prepared.

Ste, who runs the Linnets Updates unofficial twitter feed and Linnets Podcast while also writing first-team match reports for our website and local newspapers, explained: 'I was wearing my 10th anniversary 3rd kit when Jack was born.

'So within minutes of being in the world, he was pressed up against a Linnets kit and his mum, Claire has had him a yellow and green hooped cardigan and bobble hat knitted, ready for his first game!'

Just like his three-year-old big sister, Annie who came to her first game at six weeks old (a friendly at Barnton), Jack will be continuing the Bignall family's long affiliation with the Linnets.

It now spans five generations and includes Runcorn AFC's first trainer, a club secretary (Ste's late dad, Dave), match day stewards, ball boys, a Trust Board member (Ste's brother, Mike) and a junior Linnets player in Mike's son Sam.

Dave Bettley, Trust secretary at the Linnets, said: 'Jack is certainly the youngest Trust member I have registered since I took on the  role and I very much doubt we have had any one younger since we relaunched as the fans-owned club 11 years ago.

'We'd like to congratulate Ste, Claire and Annie on their very happy news - while also giving baby Jack a special welcome and looking forward to him making his debut at The Millbank Linnets Stadium.

'We hope he grows up to be as staunch a supporter of the club as the rest of his family  - he certainly has every chance and probably no option!'