Runcorn drew with Greenalls Padgate and St Oswalds in the Pre-season warm-up at Chester University with a score of 1-1. Wadey off in 20th minute with injury following a challenge. Freddie Potter scored for the Linnets in the 56th minute with a great strike from inside the area. Equaliser in the 82nd minute.

Runcorn Linnets have taken delivery of new pitch perimeter fencing panels, which have been bought with sponsorship from fans.

The 48 green panels, like those which have been trialled at the Millbank Linnets Stadium in the last year, will be used to fill in 24 sections of the existing fence – six in each corner of the ground.

Installation is likely to begin in the next 10 days or so as part of work needed to comply with Evo-Stik League grading requirements.

The MLS meets the standard for Evo-Stik membership but should the club achieve promotion, it would then need to enclose the pitch side fence within 12 months.

Sixteen sections of pitchside fencing, each accommodating two of the six-foot panels, have so far been sponsored at £35 per section. The Linnets are very grateful to those who have supported the scheme so far.

The club is hoping that sponsors can also be found for the remaining eight panels - each panel will feature a small plaque with the name of the sponsor (or sponsors).

Anyone interested in sponsoring a panel or alternatively signing up for one of the pitchside advertising boards, available on other parts of the perimeter fencing, is asked to use Contact Us on the club website at www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk to obtain further details.

Runcorn Linnets have been handed a trip to AFC Blackpool on the opening day of the North West Counties League Premier Division on Saturday, August 8th.

This is the second time Linnets will have launched a league campaign with a visit to the Fylde coast club, the first occasion coming at the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

That particular game (on Saturday, August 6th 2011) was notable not only for a 3-2 victory against an AFC side making their debut in the NWCL's top flight after winning the Division One title but also the first appearances in Linnets colours of goalkeeper Richie Mottram and midfieldman Michael Ellison. Both have gone on to become stalwarts at the Millbank and have a player-of-the-season award each under their belts.

Linnets' first home match will be on Tuesday, August 11th - against Ashton Athletic, one of only two teams to record a league victory over eventual runners-up Runcorn at the MLS last season.

The trans-Pennine journey to Glasshoughton Welfare in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, August 15th will complete an interesting first eight days of the season for Joey Dunn's men.

The draw for the Emirates FA Cup, released this afternoon, means that Runcorn Linnets will be visiting unfamiliar territory as one of 736 clubs entering at the opening stage of this season's competition.

The extra preliminary round on Saturday, August 15th pitches us at Glasshoughton Welfare, who are based near Castleford. Glasshoughton are members of the Northern Counties East League Division One after being relegated from the Premier Division at the end of 2014-15 season. This will be the first time the two clubs have met.

The winners will receive £1,500 in prize money and a home tie against another Yorkshire side in the preliminary round. Glasshoughton Welfare or Runcorn Linnets will receive either Penistone Church from Sheffield or Pontefract Collieries, both of whom would also be new opposition for Linnets.

Both are NCEL outfits – Penistone, who were founded as long ago as 1906, are in Division One while Pontefract are a Premier Division club. The preliminary round is on Saturday, August 29th - all winners collecting £1,925 from the FA Cup prize fund.

In the FA Vase, Linnets are exempt until the first round proper on Saturday October 31st and will therefore sit out the two qualifying rounds.

The draw for the Men United League Cup has been made, and we will visit Irlam or Widnes in the second round. The date for the tie is yet to be confirmed.

More details of the draw on the League Website.