Almost 100 teams descended on the Halton Sports Complex next to the Millbank Linnets Stadium for a festival of football, which highlighted the Linnets' facilities, organisational skills and playing ability of the host teams.

After some near misses for the Linnets representatives in earlier semi-finals and finals, it all ended in triumph with the Under 12s Girls winning their competition thanks to a memorable victory in the final match of three action-packed days over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Ciaran Clotworthy, Junior Linnets club secretary and RLFC Trust Board member, said: "It was a fantastic turnout by all involved. I am sure the kids enjoyed themselves and we've had very positive feedback about Halton Sports and the Linnets' facilities.

"Weekends like this really do showcase what we can achieve and excel at and I am extremely proud of all of my managers, coaches and everyone else who helped out."

Matches for Under 8s and U10s on the Saturday were followed by U7s and U9s games on Sunday before girl power took over on Monday with tournaments for U10s and U12s, all competitions being seven-a-side.

Mrs Clotworthy added: "A massive thank you from the junior section to the Linnet Ladies, John Pickering (coach), James Sidwell (coach), Julie Makin (manager), Mandy (captain) and Paula (player) for attending and helping out with the girls tournament, presenting trophies and staying until the end to clean up and help with the clear down.

"Our new groundsman, Jon Barton, did a first-class job, ensuring the pitches were marked out each morning and it really did look like we had the best ground around for miles! It did not go unnoticed by the juniors that club chairman Derek Greenwood came and supported us and I have been asked to thank him for his support also."

There were team and individual trophies for all the winners and medals for the runners-up with participation mementoes for the younger age group players.

A tournament café, penalty shootouts and sideshows meant all the family was well catered for and with even a professional photographer on site to capture the winning moments, the event was well received.

Sharon Kirby, secretary of Litherland Tigers, said: "I would like to thank you and all the organisers for such a fantastic tournament - both our U7s and U8s had a great time. Yesterday and today were organised so well. Thanks for the invite."

Carolyn Attwood-Parry, of Urmston Meadowside Under 6s and Under 7s, said: "Just wanted to say thanks for today. We had a fantastic time."

RLFC club chairman Derek Greenwood paid tribute to all involved in organising and staging the event, not least Ciaran Clotworthy and Junior club treasurer/Akidamey director Stuart Graham. Mr Greenwood said: "The complex looked fabulous and the tournament was a credit to the club. It was great to see so many youngsters clearly enjoying themselves."

Another most rewarding season for the junior section, lit up by title success for the Linnets U18s, U16s and U11s plus U12s cup glory, has seen a surge in interest to continue a positive trend since Inter Linnets JFC amalgamated with Runcorn Linnets in 2010.

Mrs Clotworthy said: "When I took over as secretary of Inter Union JFC six seasons ago, I had 112 children including the Akidamey kids (for children under age for competitive football).

"This season we've had 214 'Little Linnets' including the Akidemey. And due to the success of the club and the Akidamey, the conservative figures for season 2014/15 are at 288 juniors.

"I believe we are on our way to becoming the biggest club in our area and possibly beyond."

For further information on Runcorn Linnets Junior Football Club, telephone club secretary Ciaran Clotworthy on 07876752868.

Pictures from the tournament are available here.

The charity which runs the Foodbank was delighted with the response after supporters of the two clubs were asked to donate food to aid families in crisis in the town.

Fans not only turned up at the end-of-season game with provisions but also donated money to the cause.

Rebekah Tunningley, the Foodbank's manager, said the food and cash had been much appreciated.

She thanked all Runcorn football supporters who had contributed to the appeal and also Linnets fan Tony Waddington, who had co-ordinated the collection on the match day.

Tony, a former Linnets Trust Board member and club secretary, said information as to exactly how many families had been helped by the initiative was not yet available.

But he added: "We were greatly impressed with the donations of both foodstuffs and money.

"When I dropped the donations off the foodbank team members seemed genuinely chuffed. I managed to see what looked like a low-stocked storeroom so we've helped at a good time."

Runcorn Foodbank is run by The Trussell Trust in conjunction with Runcorn Churches Together, led by Hope Corner Community Church in Church Street, Runcorn.

Since launching in November 2012 and thanks to volunteer staff and public generosity, it has provided more than 3,000 crisis-hit people in the town with emergency food. Many of those it has helped are children and vulnerable adults.

With demand for its services having recently risen by 170%, Runcorn Foodbank needs more donations than ever.

The picture was taken at the Foodbank collection point on Easter Monday and shows Katie Heeley, Bethany Heeley, Colin Keiley, Tony Waddington, Lee Metcalf, Katerina Heeley and Chris Heeley. (Photo courtesy of the Runcorn Weekly News).

THE raffle of a 2013-14 Runcorn Linnets FC home shirt - signed by the first-team squad - has raised £250 for the town's Cavendish High School, this year's chosen club charity.

The shirt was custom-framed by Runcorn Framers of Regent Street in Runcorn town centre, with the winning ticket being drawn at the Linnets' end-of-season awards evening for the senior club.

Tickets had been sold at Runcorn Linnets FC, Runcorn Framers and Cavendish School, which is for 11-19 year olds with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties.

The winner was Debbie Rex from Cavendish with numbers 46-50 on a BLUE ticket with white insert. The security code was 781300.

RLFC thanks Sara and Chris Jones at Runcorn Framers for their support with the raffle and all those who contributed to its success by purchasing tickets.

MICHAEL Burke was the big winner at Runcorn Linnets' senior end-of-season presentations in a full clubhouse at the Millbank Linnets Stadium.

The 6ft 4in centre back was a towering ever-present in the team, which in a successful 2013-14 campaign earned the Linnets their highest-ever finish of second in the North West Counties League Premier Division and received the Runcorn Supporters Club's Player of the Season prize on the vote of the club's fans.

He accepted the Jimmy Lightfoot Trophy from Supporters Club chairman Stuart Houghton to complete a treble, having earlier picked up two memorial awards - as inaugural winner of the Phil Tyler Trophy for Young Linnets' PoY and, from junior fan Taylor Pendleton, the Bill Philcock Shield for Linnets Travel Club's Away PoY.

Phil Tyler's daughter Brenda Jenkin presented the new award, which she and her husband John have donated to the club in memory of one of the club's best-loved fans.

But a very surprised Brenda ended up taking home a trophy herself - after her late father was posthumously awarded the Noel Bell Trophy for club service. Lifelong Linnets fan and long-standing Supporters Club committee man Phil, who died in January this year, had previously won this award in 2007-08.

It was presented this time, in the absence of Noel's widow Sue, by Phil Wainwright, treasurer of both RLFC and the Supporters Club.

Another maiden award was the George Worrall Trophy in remembrance of the former Runcorn AFC club secretary, who had passed away in February 2013.

George's son Nick handed the trophy – for Players' Player of the Year - to Gavin Salmon as the unanimous choice of Linnets team-mates according to club captain Mike Tomlinson, who praised the veteran striker's dedication and commitment to the team and also his popularity and effervescence in the dressing room.

Having announced his retirement on the final weekend of the campaign, "Tomo" received a special Vice-Presidents' Award from Steve Pritchard and Stuart White on account of outstanding service to the Linnets with whom he had begun and now completed his career.

First-team boss Joey Dunn said the 34-year-old former England non-league international defender possessed all the qualities any manager would seek from his skipper as a player and person.

Club president Alan Jones handed his annual Leading Scorer's Trophy to 20-goal Antony Hickey while, after a club website poll, the Wilf Bettley Trophy for Goal of the Season went to Hickey's co-striker Kevin Towey for his decisive Boxing Day strike away to Runcorn Town. This award was presented by Wilf's widow Joan and son Dave, the Linnets' trust secretary.

The Ray Shingler Trophy for Home Player of the Year (based on Linnets man-of-the-match nominations by visiting clubs) went to experienced midfielder Matty Cross, who collected the trophy from club secretary, Lynn Johnston.

The climax to an enjoyable evening, hosted by club chairman Derek Greenwood – assisted by Trust Board member John Greenhalgh - saw Lynn Johnston present the first-team squad with their NWC League runners-up trophy and commemorative medals.

Runcorn Linnets are extremely grateful to supporter Julie Hardaway for her generous contribution towards the awards buffet and hope she will feel well enough to return to matches next season.

The club thanks all fans and volunteers for their excellent support and assistance this season and looks forward to their continued backing for the 2014-15 campaign, which gets under way in August.

Some pictures from the Presentation Evening are available here.

Runcorn Linnets' first-team boss Joey Dunn has been named Premier Division Manager of the Month by the North West Counties League for the fourth time this season. The well-deserved accolade follows a run of six unbeaten games in April, culminating in wins from the Linnets' last four matches of the 2013-14 campaign.