RUNCORN Foodbank have praised the generosity of football fans, who donated to a food collection at the Christmas derby match in the town.

Followers of North West Counties League neighbours Runcorn Linnets and Runcorn Town responded to an appeal by their respective clubs by taking along groceries on Boxing Day in aid of the charity's work with needy families.

Linnets supporters Tony Waddington and Lee Metcalfe manned the collection point at The Millbank Linnets Stadium, as they had successfully done for last season's corresponding duel.

Both were again delighted with the response from officials and fans in Linnets' yellow and green colours and the blue of Town alike.

They promptly dropped off the supplies at Bethesda Church in Lapwing Grove, Palacefields - one of the local churches closely associated with the foodbank.

A Runcorn Foodbank spokesperson said: "Thank you for the magnificent donation of food, weighing 129 kilos, collected at the Runcorn Linnets football match on Boxing Day.

"This helps to just add that little bit extra for needy families as we do rely totally on donations from the community."

Tony Waddington said: "We dropped the food off at Bethesda Church the day after the match and the volunteers were very pleased with the donations. We are very grateful to all who donated items."

Runcorn Foodbank is run by The Trussell Trust in conjunction with Runcorn Churches Together. Since launching in November 2012, Runcorn Foodbank has given emergency food supplies to 3,000 people thanks to the dedication of its volunteers and generosity of local people.

Runcorn beat Bacup & Rossendale Borough in the North West Counties Premier League at The Millbank Linnets Stadium with a score of 3-2. Bacup & Rossendale Borough scored in the 14th minute. Kevin Towey equalised with a glancing header in the 6 yard box in the 28th minute. Kevin Towey scored for the Linnets in the 45th minute after a scramble in front of goal. Matty Atherton increased the Linnets' lead in the 47th minute with a strike from inside the 6 yard box. Bacup & Rossendale Borough closed the gap in the 86th minute.

Match Report

Based at The Heath Business and Technical Park, on the former ICI Heath Offices site, the fitness centre is offering Linnets' first-team squad unlimited access to its excellent facilities as the players bid for the league championship and a spot in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League for 2015-16.

Joey Dunn's charges have already been training at the complex, which features gym, weights room, studio and physio room, for several weeks and have seen the benefits of topping up an already high level of fitness.

Mark McGrath, who manages the leisure suite for business park owners SOG Limited, has been suitably impressed by the fitness plans in place at the club.

He said: "The Runcorn Linnets have a prominent place in the community and we are excited to be part of it. We are looking forward to working alongside them.

"I believe the Runcorn Linnets team have got a great opportunity here as they can take full advantage of what the Heath Leisure Suite has to offer.

"The team has unlimited access to the gym's facilities which is a unique offering and not something that other teams at this level often receive.

"I am really impressed with what I have seen so far - the standard of the fitness plans and regimes put in place by the management and coaches is very high, mirroring what is typical of teams at higher levels of football.

"In particular what I found impressive was the focus and emphasis on the injured players to make sure they make a quick recovery from injury."

Runcorn Linnets chairman, Derek Greenwood said: "Support such as this from The Heath Leisure Suite really is important and invaluable to us.

"They have been hugely supportive, extremely accommodating and most generous in setting up this arrangement, which helps to make our training sessions as varied and professional as they can possibly be for a part-time club of our size and resources.

"We are only too glad to reciprocate by offering The Heath Leisure Centre pro-rata advertising space on our ground and website and in our match day programme.

Linnets' club manager, Joey Dunn said: "Our management and coaching staff, along with club physiotherapist Carl Rutter, take genuine care in all aspects of match preparation and player well-being, showing great attention to detail.

"We have been given a terrific welcome by all at The Heath Leisure Suite and we cannot thank Mark McGrath and his staff enough.

"Their help will ensure our players are even fitter for the challenges ahead and also that we have excellent facilities for fuller assessment of injuries and rehabilitation."

Runcorn Linnets are enjoying their most successful period since formation in 2006 while the leisure suite has likewise gone from strength to strength after opening eight and a half years ago.

Its current membership includes about 150 employees of companies based on the business park but the 7-day-a-week facility is open to the general public and all are welcome.

The Heath Leisure Suite has five fitness instructors with Level 3 personal training qualifications although they are not directly involved with the Linnets' training as yet.

The centre is a training base for several international-class athletes, including Runcorn's M40 200m world champion sprinter Darren Scott, Great Britain Bobsleigh athlete Rebekah Wilson (a competitor at last year's Winter Olympics in Sochi), and GB 400m hurdler Abi Fitzpatrick, who is targeting the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Membership of the fitness centre can be taken out annually but is also available on a monthly basis - with no joining fees or contract - at £18-£20 per month, including classes.

The daily gym pass is £4 and a class pass costs £3.50. The suite has a ladies-only gym.

On completion of a short application form, membership can be paid by. cash, card, cheque or standing order.

For further information visit www.theheath.com or the Heath Leisure Suite page on Facebook.

You can see some pictures of the guys using the facilities here.

THE death has occurred at the age of 91 of former Linnets forward Jimmy Dunn, who like his namesake father before him, joined Runcorn after an FA Cup-winning career in professional football.

Dunn Jnr had been one of only two surviving member of the Wolverhampton Wanderers team which won the cup at Wembley in 1949.

After 100-plus wartime appearances for Wolves, he went on to make 144 league and cup outings for the Molineux club, scoring 40 goals from inside forward, before moving to Derby County in 1953 for £15,000.

He played for Runcorn in the late 1950s as a team-mate of the future Linnets manager John Williams under ex-Everton star Cyril Lello's management and is remembered by long-standing supporters for his creative play.

He also played in non-league football for Worcester City and later served West Bromwich Albion as trainer, being on the bench for their 1968 FA Cup final success over Everton.

Scottish international forward Jimmy Dunn Snr, an FA Cup winner in 1933 with Everton, was Runcorn's player-manager when the Linnets hosted Preston North End in the third round tie of 1939. He came to Canal Street after a spell at Exeter City.

Thank you to all who bought or sold tickets this year in Runcorn Supporters Club's Christmas Draw.

Prize winners are as follows:

1 £100 (No 1579) Kel Hoose;
2 Model helicopter (1269) J Mitchell c/o D Greenwood;
3 Vodka (386) C Bate c/o Ian Rhodes;
4 Egg store (393) Ian Rhodes;
5 Sherry (1641) Tommy c/o Joanne Wakefield;
6 Ladies' bedroom set (170) Peter Jones c/o Ian Knowles;
7 Manicure set (1775) M Fisher;
8 Girls Night In set (187) Nikki, Royal Oak;
9 Ladies' gift set (558) Steve Pritchard;
10 Red wine (196) Ian Rhodes;
11 Wine opener (1965) Laura Roberts c/o Ian Knowles;
12 White wine (412) Nathan, Village Store, Weston;
13 Biscuits (1732) Phillip Barnwell;
14 Mint chocolates (728) Brian Carter c/o S Houghton;
15 Toblerone (1151) Gareth Jones;
16 Haribo sweets (1246) Derek Greenwood;
17 Bracelet (2134) Carol Robinson;
18 Bracelet (1113) Susan Albiston;
19 Bracelet (1278) C Strong c/o D Greenwood;
20 Turkish Delight (1042) N Shaw;
21 Selection box (361) Betty Clark c/o Ian Rhodes;
22 Selection box (1802) Lenny c/o Brendan;
23 Ginger wine (655) George c/o S Houghton;
24 Selection box (2203) Jan Young;
25 Selection box (1909) Nora Rowlinson c/o Ian Knowles.