Many congratulations to Derek on winning the national annual Richard Lillicrap Award which was presented to him by Supporters Direct at the Supporters Summit 2013 - an event SD jointly hosted with the FSF (Football Supporters Federation).

The conference took place at the FA's St George's Park near Burton and the keynote speakers included chairman of the FA David Bernstein and the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, MP for Leigh and Shadow Health Minister.

Here is what Supporters Direct said:

Richard Lillicrap was a former Treasurer of Supporters Direct, and one of the key individuals involved at the beginning for the Swans Trust who sadly passed away in 2007. The award has been presented since 2008, is nominated by members of SD, and is given to the person who best embodies Richard's unquenchable dedication to helping fellow supporters towards greater involvement at their clubs.

This year's award goes to Derek Greenwood the Chair of Runcorn Linnets FC

Derek has been an exiled fan of his club for most of his life often making a long 120 mile round trip to watch his beloved club.

After the new fans owned Runcorn Linnets was established in 2007 following the demise of Runcorn Halton FC. Derek was involved from the outset and succeeded the inaugural Chair, Stuart White and has led this Community Owned Club from their ground sharing at Wilton Albion, across the M56 in Northwich back to a home at the Millbank Stadium in Runcorn.

As one of the first supporter owned clubs, set up with the Supporters Direct constitution, he has spoken many times at gatherings of fans considering following Runcorn Linnet's path. He has always spoken the truth and never hidden the hard work needed to successfully run a football club made up of supporter volunteers. Nothing has been kept from those who he has advised, a "warts and all" approach has ensured that clubs such as 1874 Northwich FC and most recently, Widnes Vikings FC among many other North West based clubs have had all the information they could possibly need to be prepared to take the giant step to own and run their own club.

He has helped people to "shadow" the Runcorn volunteers at home and away matches, opened up the accounts for scrutiny and imitation plus worked with potential rivals to know how to apply the tough FA requirements and rules, form filling and disciplinary procedures.

From editing the old club's programme to formulating the path for the new club's progress to their own ground one year ahead of plan, Derek Greenwood has done most jobs at a football club and shares all of that wealth of experience and knowledge with anyone who can benefit from his mastery of running a non-league football club in the English pyramid.

Derek Greenwood epitomises a true supporter and community club chair.

Derek was nominated by the board of the newly formed 1874 Northwich FC. They said the following;

“Derek has shown excellent leadership of his own Board over the past decade as Runcorn were formed, ground shared for a number of seasons, developed their own facilities and have established themselves as a valued member of NWCL. A fine example for us to follow. In addition to this he has helped us enormously as a newly formed supporters run football club and has provided us with much of the knowledge and information needed to achieve our first goal as a NWCL football club.”

Runcorn Linnets are pleased to announce that the affiliation of the current Runcorn Ladies team into the club will be completed by the end of June when the team will become known as Runcorn Linnets Ladies.

The team has recently affiliated to the Cheshire FA and will play in the Cheshire Women's and Youth League Division 2 next season. Home matches will be played at the Millbank Linnets Stadium on Sundays.

Chairman, Derek Greenwood said: “We are delighted to welcome the ladies team into the club and equally pleased that Everton Ladies have agreed to send their first team for a pre-season warm up game to the stadium on Thursday 11 July with a 7.45pm kick off.” Admission to that game will be just £2 for adults, £1 for concessions and accompanied under 16s will be free. Everton Ladies manager, Andy Spence added: “Everton Ladies Football Club is a great supporter of football within our local communities. Therefore we are pleased to accept the invitation from Runcorn Linnets Ladies FC and be a part of celebrating this merger. As Women's football continues to grow at all levels the support Runcorn Linnets Ladies FC are getting from The Millbank Stadium is great to see and highlights the genuine and real interest that is being offered the Women's game from grassroots up to the FA WSL”. The Linnets are hoping that the game will receive coverage from Everton TV.

The ladies recently organised a successful ladies 5-a-side tournament for 20 teams at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes. Luke Barber, chairman of the ladies team, said: “We are grateful for all the help we have received to make the amalgamation of the clubs happen. We have been holding trials already and have been extremely pleased with the quality of those who have turned up. We are looking forward eagerly to the new season”

Meanwhile, The Linnets have re-organised their teams for next season. In line with a number of NWCFL clubs, the club have decided not to enter a reserve team in that division but to enter an Under 18 team into the Warrington league with a view to establishing a development squad for future seasons. Many of last season’s youth team players are eligible to play in that team. Derek Greenwood added: “A number of teams have withdrawn for next season from the NWCFL reserve division. We had already discussed the possibility of doing this and looking towards the future by forming an under 18 team instead. This will also cut down on the amount of travelling that the younger players have to do”. The club will have 13 junior clubs playing in a variety of leagues next season.

Pre –season training started on Saturday 22 June for the first team and pre-season friendlies start with a trip to Barnton on 9th July.

Season tickets are now on sale for next season with prices the same as previous years: Adults £90; Concessions £54. Half season tickets are also available and full details can be found at: http://www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk/SeasonTickets.asp

Joey Dunn has appointed ex-Linnet David Ness as First Team Coach. Everybody at the club would like to extend a warm welcome to Nessy.

At the League AGM Runcorn Linnets have been drawn at home against Barnoldswick Town in the Second Round of the League Challenge Cup.

Organisations such as the Oliver King Foundation have made great efforts to create awareness of the importance of teams/clubs/leagues having defibrillators pitchside in junior football, with the hope of saving lives of not only junior players but also spectators.

"This equipment will be available for many years, not only to those involved with Runcorn Linnets JFC but every team/spectator on surrounding pitches on our matchdays, up to 500 people on occasions. This may well save the life of a friend or a complete stranger one day. A fantastic thought and offer from Keppel Seghers" - Peter Stevenson (Runcorn Linnets U14s Manager).

"The machine will help any member of my team if they need it, it will also help my friends and family and anyone close by. It will mean alot to everyone as they might need it one day. When we got to tournaments it will be available for hundreds of people to use." - Kieran Parry (Runcorn Linnets U14 player).