RUNCORN Linnets Football Club is extending its half-price adult admission offer on Non-League Day, Saturday October 10th, to include season-ticket holders of professional Rugby League clubs.

The fans-owned Linnets had already announced they would be charging the concessionary rate of just £3 entry, instead of the normal full-price £6, to season-ticket holders of Barclays Premier League and Sky Bet Championship football clubs plus members of the Armed Forces, for the visit of Silsden.

The club is now cutting the same deal to those with Rugby League club season tickets for First Utility Super League, the Kingstone Press Championship or Kingstone Press League 1, on production of their tickets at the turnstile.

Non-League Day is a chance for football clubs from outside the professional game to attract fans from English football's top two divisions during an international break and for big-club supporters to show solidarity with teams from further down the sporting ladder.

The national celebration of non-league football sees Yorkshire's only representatives in the North West Counties League Premier Division come to The Millbank Linnets Stadium in Murdishaw Avenue, Runcorn, WA7 6HP (kick off 3pm).

Linnets' volunteer officials are hoping to further raise the profile of the Trust-run club by also attracting followers of the 13-a-side clubs in neighbouring towns, including those living in Runcorn itself. They have already secured sponsorship of the match from S&B Pets of Widnes Market.

Derek Greenwood, chairman of Runcorn Linnets, said: "We know there is a strong support for Rugby League in the town and even among our existing fan base with some of our supporters also following Widnes Vikings, Warrington Wolves or St Helens and perhaps even clubs further afield.

"I am sure there are, likewise, a lot of football fans frequenting The Select Security Stadium, The Halliwell Jones Stadium and Langtree Park. With the summer RL season coming to an end, there is now a chance for us to show these supporters what grassroots non-league football has to offer during the winter months and is all about.

"We realise that Non-League Day coincides with the Super League Grand Final and St Helens will hope to be involved in the big game, but we would invite any rugby league fans not heading for Old Trafford to come along to enjoy some live sport with us – fans will be home in front of their TV, or where ever else they may choose to watch the final, in good time.

"They will find that with a relatively cheap pricing structure, football at our level is very family orientated – we offer free admission to those aged 16 year olds and Under if accompanied by a paying adult and at our last Saturday home game we had approaching 50 juniors attending which was really encouraging.

"There is no such thing as segregation and fans are able to meet and mix in a friendly atmosphere. Adults can normally gain admission for themselves and a child, buy a match day programme and obtain a cup of tea and coffee and a soft drink, all for about £10.

"It is a great deal and we are sure those visiting us for the first time will be pleasantly surprised by the standard of football and also the enthusiasm of both our players who play for the love of their sport and fans who support us for the love of the game and our club."

Linnets' NLD opponents Silsden are from another of Rugby League's heartland areas and previously staged their home games at nearby Cougar Park, home of Keighley Cougars RLFC, before upgrading their community facilities so the first team could play on their own ground.

Runcorn Linnets, meanwhile, were formed in 2006 by supporters of the now-defunct Runcorn AFC, a club which towards the end of its existence shared use of the then Auto Quest Stadium with the Vikings as tenants of Halton Borough Council.

The Millbank Linnets Stadium has been Linnets' home since 2010 after an initial four-year ground share at Witton Albion FC in Northwich.

The Linnets regularly attract crowds of 300+ to a ground which has covered areas for standing and sitting.

There is no licensed bar inside the clubhouse, but the Halton Arms pub adjoins the clubhouse, while hot and cold refreshments are available inside the ground.

Concessionary admission is also available to 17-18 year olds, full-time students on production of relevant ID and those aged 65 & over. Those aged 16 & under pay £1 if unaccompanied.

Holders of a Halton Leisure Card can obtain a £2 reduction on adult admission.

Runcorn beat Cammell Laird 1907 in the North West Counties Premier League at The Millbank Linnets Stadium with a score of 4-0. Freddie Potter put the Linnets ahead by throwing himself at the ball in the 6 yard box in the 3rd minute. Cammell Laird down to 10 men in 58th. Michael White increased the Linnets' lead with a penalty that sent the keeper the wrong way in the 59th minute. Michael Simpson extended our lead with a well placed shot from inside the area in the 65th minute. Antony Hickey put us four goals clear with a thunderous strike from inside the area that almost burst the net in the 80th minute.

Match Report

Runcorn Linnets will travel to Division One side Irlam in the second round of the North West Counties League's Men United Cup.

Irlam scored a late goal for a 2-1 home victory over Widnes in today's first-round tie and will now host the Linnets at Silver Street on Saturday, October 24th.

Runcorn beat West Didsbury & Chorlton in the North West Counties Premier League at Brookburn Road with a score of 0-3. Kyle Hamid scored for the Linnets in the 41st minute after dribbling round the keeper and putting it away from inside the area. Kyle Hamid increased the Linnets' lead in the 52nd minute from a cracking free kick just outside the area. Franny Smith extended our lead in the 59th minute by lobbing the 'keeper from inside the area.

Match Report

Runcorn Linnets are pressing on with the club's pitch perimeter fence sponsorship scheme after an overwhelming response from fans.

We had intended to hold back Phase Four until later in the year. However, the ground improvement initiative has clearly captured the imagination of our loyal following and with more than 60 sections already allocated, we are still receiving regular pledges and expressions of interest in sponsorship at £35 a go.

To enable us to meet the continuing demand, we are to place an order for another 30 panels. This will mean we can fill in 15 more sections of the existing pitchside fence, which would need to be entirely closed in within a year should we gain promotion to the Evo-Stik League.

A number of these additional sections are already taken and the remainder will be released on a first-come-first-served basis.

The latest batch is intended for the bottom end of the ground (furthest away from the clubhouse) as we work around from the soon-to-be-completed dugout side of the Millbank Linnets Stadium.

Once delivered, the panels will be installed by our volunteer fitters, led by Trust Board member Rob Johnston, at the earliest opportunity.

Each section is fitted with a commemorative plaque bearing the sponsor's name although some supporters have bought sections as a memorial to loved ones.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a section is asked to get in touch with the club through Contact Us on the website or speak to a club official on a match day.

We thank all those who have contributed to the scheme so far - the response has been terrific and we are sure our fans will agree that the panels have further enhanced the appearance of the ground.