Runcorn Linnets have launched a major review of their off-the-field operations to tackle head on the cost of living crisis and safeguard the community football club's long-term future.

The Linnets believe a proactive response will leave them better placed to deal with the challenges of soaring energy bills and increased running costs.

As part of this thorough review, the fans-owned Pitching In Northern Premier League club is investigating energy alternatives in a bid to cut soaring bills and reduce refuse through recycling – measures which will not only aid the club in terms of cost but also help the environment.

Trust Board member, Bren Connolly, spearheading the project at the club, said: "We are all affected by increasing energy costs and general price increases.

"Energy costs at Linnets have been averaging around £2,000 per month, even before the planned increases.

"The club has also been impacted by security costs and maintenance costs as some of the clubhouse equipment starts to require attention.

"It is an opportunity to consider sustainability from two angles - the sustainability of the club to ensure it has a secure, long-term future and the sustainability of our planet."

The Trust Board feels it is important to advise supporters of the steps being taken to address these issues, where possible avoiding the need to pass on these increased costs.

The club is:
• Continuing to work hard to increase commercial income.
• Looking at ways to increase recycling and reduce waste disposal costs.
• Investigating the possibility of converting the floodlights to LED.

Linnets have also commissioned Cheshire-based sustainable solutions company, RSK Group to undertake a Sustainability Study.

RSK has established a global reputation ftom its headquarters in Helsby and earlier this year signed a five-year deal with Charlton Athletic FC, becoming the EFL League One club's official sustainability partner.

As a result of the RSK study, Runcorn Linnets are:
• Undertaking a mechanical and electrical survey to identify improved operational efficiency and reduced energy usage
• Further considering solar power options, after an earlier investigation indicated this may not be beneficial.

Bren Connolly added: "The Solar power and LED floodlight options would require significant, up-front investment and if we believe either or both are worth pursuing, we intend to make grant applications and seek further sponsorship to help fund these initiatives."

This review at Runcorn Linnets coincides with a survey launched by the Football Supporters Association (FSA), of which the club is a member, and the Non-League Paper to assess the effects of the cost-of-living crisis.

The club would very much welcome the thoughts of their supporters and anyone who may be able to help with its scheme.

Runcorn Linnets are delighted to unveil our new first-team home kit.

This is on schedule to arrive and make its debut in early to mid October.

The new shirt has been designed and manufactured in the time-honoured yellow and green by O'Neills, who had already served our junior teams as kit partner.

Replica shirts (short sleeve only) are available to pre-order here

Prices are £40 (including VAT) in all adult sizes and £31 for juniors.

Ordinarily, it has been club policy to change kits every two seasons but the suspension of football due to Covid-19 has impacted this.

It meant that the lifespan of our present home and away strips have been extended.

Under the difficult financial circumstances, which prevailed during lockdown and continue now during the cost-of-living crisis, the club has endeavoured to be responsible and prudent with its spending.

The decision was, therefore, taken to begin this season with the kit we have used for the previous two seasons.

But it has since been decided to take the unusual step of changing kit with the season already under way.

Uppermost in our thinking is that our existing kit deal has not, as we had hoped, incorporated a replica kit option for the benefit of our supporters and kit sponsors.

Consequently, Complete Security Services (CSS) have not had an opportunity to see fans wearing shirts bearing their name.

This was an unfortunate situation that we felt could and should not continue, given the generosity of the company and the goodwill of owner, Jim McGrath.

Jim has been so incredibly supportive to the club since becoming our front-of-shirt sponsor at the start of last season, as indeed has Alan Mercer, of Grangeside, whose company name will again adorn the reverse to maintain Alan's long-standing support.

The new home shirt will be in the yellow and green hoops, which have been our signature since we returned to Runcorn in 2010. But it features a graduated restyling of the hoops.

Replicas can also be purchased or ordered on match days from the club shop at APEC Taxis Stadium. (We will have limited stock in the most popular adult sizes).

A new online store is to be opened in association with O'Neills, once shirt pre-orders have been fulfilled.

Club chairman, Peter Cartledge said: "The yellow and green hoops have become synonymous with Runcorn Linnets and are instantly recognisable as our brand. The kit is so unusual that no hooped shirts in our home colours are available off the peg.

"We have undertaken a careful procurement exercise to ensure that we have a shirt, which will meet the needs of the club, our sponsors and fans - ensuring that our traditional yellow and green hoops will be worn by supporters as well as our players on match days and also be seen around the town.

"We are grateful to O'Neills for coming up with such a striking design."

The new home kit will be retained until the end of 2023-24 season at least.

The club will keep the present orange and black away kit for the remainder of this season with a view to changing next summer.

The intention is to involve Trust members in the replacement process.

Runcorn Linnets is lending its full support to Play Safe – an ongoing national campaign led by The FA to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding in football.

Although it runs throughout the year, Play Safe really comes to the fore over football's National Safeguarding Weekend, held this year on Saturday/Sunday 1st and 2nd October.

The main focus this year is on parents and carers, with two key messages to convey:

• Awareness of the vital safeguarding role parents/carers play in football; and

• Encouragement to take the short, new and free online safeguarding course that's been created specifically for parents/carers.

You can access the course here.

Importantly, encouragement to take the new course has come from FASSSAG – The FA's Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group:

"We have inputted into the course and helped frame its key messages from our collective experiences. It's vitally important to us that every parent/carer understands they role they need to play in football. Taking this course can make a real difference – we are asking every parent/carer to commit to help ensure football is ever-safer."

The support of FASSSAG has been welcomed by FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham, himself a parent and youth football coach. "The FASSSAG has been important in helping us create our new strategy moving forwards and we really appreciate their input into the new course. I have taken the new course and encourage all parents/carers across football to take it too.

"Ultimately, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We all need to ensure that everyone involved in football – particularly children and young people – has a consistently safe and positive experience of our great game. Play Safe reminds everyone of that responsibility and keeps safeguarding front of mind, which is exactly where it should be."

Play Safe is being run in partnership with the NSPCC and has the full backing of the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Championship. It's also supported and being run across every other level of the game.

Runcorn Linnets have been drawn at home to Ossett United in the third and final qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

This will be a third tie against Pitching In Northern Premier League clubs in this season's competition and the second in succession against East Division opposition, following Saturday's win at North Shields.

The tie is to be played on Saturday, October 8th.

This means the scheduled Northern Premier League West Division game at home to 1874 Northwich will be rearranged.

Runcorn Linnets have been drawn at home to Prescot Cables in the first round of the Liverpool Senior Cup, this being our first ever tie in the competition.

Ties are scheduled for week commencing Monday, October 24th.

The winners will be away to Burscough or City of Liverpool in one of six second-round ties.

Everton and Tranmere Rovers will then join the tournament for the quarter finals.

Liverpool haven't entered.