RUNCORN Linnets Football Club are launching a £200 competition for junior schools in the town to name their clubhouse.

The challenge has been set by the club’s main sponsors, Runcorn-based international logistics company Millbank, which recently extended its initial three-year deal to cover the next two seasons.

As part of the deal, Millbank has naming rights for the club’s ground, The Millbank Linnets Stadium, and also the main club building at the Halton Sports site in Murdishaw.

Millbank are now enlisting the support of schoolchildren to help decide on a name for the clubhouse with the proviso it will be historically linked to the club or town of Runcorn.

Club chairman Derek Greenwood said: “Runcorn Linnets are always looking for new ways to involve the community in our activities and we see this as a chance for schoolchildren to put their mark on the club and the town.

“We already have a thriving junior section with a full range of junior teams and attract a growing number of youngsters to our first-team matches. They are our senior players and supporters of the future and this competition can only enhance interest in the club with the youth of Runcorn.

“We are grateful to Millbank for passing on the naming rights for the clubhouse to local schools.

“We would now like to see the building named after an individual or organisation with strong historical connections to Runcorn Linnets, our predecessor club Runcorn AFC or the town itself.”

The club is inviting school classes or groups of pupils to come up with original suggestions, combining their entry with a local history project which will be considered by the judging panel in their deliberations, with the winning school receiving £200.

The free-to-enter competition is open to all children of junior school age but is deemed most suitable for Year 6 children as a post-SATS initiative.

As an extra incentive, all pupils participating in each entry will receive free tickets for themselves and a parent/guardian to attend a Runcorn Linnets first team game in 2013-14 season.

Entry forms are being sent out this week to all Runcorn junior and primary schools with the closing date for entries being Friday, June 28 2013.

Once the winner is known, arrangements will be made for Millbank representatives and club officials to present the prize to the successful school in early July.

Mr Greenwood added: “We hope schools will take part in the competition and look forward to it being a valuable exercise for all concerned.”

August – Slow out of the blocks…

With the Olympics still going on as the NWCFL season kicked off, Runcorn were slow out of the blocks. An opening day draw with Barnoldswick was followed by Maine Road’s 4-1 demolition of the Linnets, to mean one point from six. Chris Dykes’ 2nd minute strike gave brief hope, but Runcorn were outplayed and given an early season wake up call. With confidence knocked, a fall at the first hurdle in the FA Cup followed. The tie should have been put to bed at the first time of asking, but a man down, Hemsworth dug out a replay and then proceeded to dump the Linnets out, after the first MLS penalty shoot-out. More penalty drama awaited later in the season. Four red cards, only one of which went Runcorn’s way, produced the headlines as the league campaign got back underway at AFC Blackpool. A second half Matty Jones header salvaged a point in a scrappy affair. The first two wins of the season arrived away at Alsager and at home to Colne, and provided hope of an upturn in form. The month ended as it had started though, with a draw at the MLS. Profligacy in front of goal cost Runcorn dear against a lowly Stone side, and only Rob Whyte’s 93rd minute equaliser rescued a point. A surprising early season stat saw 50% of August’s goals arrive from set pieces.

September – A mixed bag...

September saw progression, but threw up a mixed bag of performances. League wins at home against a useful looking Stockport Sports side and Squires Gate, were sandwiched by FA Vase victories against Ashton and Alsager. Although extra time was required at the Town Ground, Runcorn progressed thanks to a 113th minute Danny Smith header. It meant a run of four wins from four, but as quickly as confidence had been built, it was lost, as Runcorn were well beaten in the final two league games of the month, shipping 4 goals in each. It wasn’t just the Bacup pitch that was sloppy, but also Runcorn’s defending on a disappointing afternoon at West View. A late Tommy Turner goal and a missed Sean Pearson penalty made no difference with the Linnets already four down and well beaten. After conceding early goals, Runcorn were once again left chasing the game against Congleton at the MLS. Two goals in the last 10 minutes combined with a petulant red card for Rob Whyte after a foul off the ball, rounded off a disappointing end to the month.

October – No Wembley this year...

Already out of the FA Cup, October saw a Vase exit as well. Having turned in a convincing performance at Norton, which saw the lads bring three points away courtesy of two goals from Neil Black and one from Tommy Turner, hopes for the tie against Winsford were high. Level approaching the final stages, two late Winsford goals sent Runcorn crashing out though. More late goals followed at Bootle, where the Linnets lost 2-0 having been level at 90 minutes. This time it was undeserved after a battling performance on a dreadful pitch. Maine Road completed the double over Runcorn to make it a third defeat in a row, before things picked up again. The final three games of the month all provided victories. League wins at home against Ashton and AFC Liverpool sandwiched a second round League Challenge Cup win at Stockport. Extra time was necessary, a theme that would develop over the cup run, and the win owed much to a late Richie Mottram penalty save, also a theme that would develop.

November – More stop than start...

A stop start November, more stop than start, saw game after game succumb to the rain. The trend started with the first game of the month at Silsden, with subsequent games at St Helens and Padiham going the same way. Frustration grew when Bootle were forced to rearrange their FA Vase tie for the same night as their scheduled visit to the MLS, after the initial tie had been postponed at the Delta Taxis Stadium. It felt like a long month, mainly due to the fact that the single game that Runcorn did play in the first 23 days of November was a poor last minute defeat at the hands of AFC Blackpool. With the faithful suffering from mild withdrawal symptoms, the final two games, by virtue of the fact that they were at home, thankfully went ahead as planned. Having slipped to an alarming 14th position in the table, home games against Alsager and Winsford were important. One point from the two games was a disappointment, especially having been 2-0 up against Alsager with 15 minutes to go. Winsford had Runcorn behind inside a minute and never looked like relinquishing their lead, comfortably seeing off the Linnets limited resistance. The final act of the month saw Macca tender his resignation. A firm Linnets favourite, Macca brought professionalism and integrity to the role and left with the best wishes of all.

December – Dunn in...

Ex-Linnet Joey Dunn was drafted in quickly at the start of December as caretaker manager and while he observed from the stands at Ashton, the 6-0 demolition of Jim McBride’s side must have been encouraging. A solitary Sean Breen goal in the next game was enough to complete a double over Squires Gate. With postponements either side of the trip to the seaside, player movements, in and out began to take the headlines. Most notably, Rob Whyte decided to move across Runcorn, later to be joined by Chris Lawton. Kyle Hamid had signed just prior to Macca’s departure and was quickly joined by fans favourite Mike Tomlinson and the infectious smile of Gavin Salmon. When the class and composure of Matt Cross and the youthful promise and energy of Mark Houghton also joined the ranks, a new era was underway and the faithful had new heroes to worship. The signings didn’t quite come in time to prevent a 2-0 defeat at in form Colne, but it would be March before Runcorn would taste defeat again, and even then it took a team from three leagues higher. December’s final game was the derby, and it was another wet one. The game finished in dramatic fashion, with Ross McDowell hitting a superb, and very much deserved, stoppage time equaliser.

January – 100%...

The New Year couldn’t have started better, with Runcorn picking up maximum points from the first 2 league games. Although they left it late, a Ross McDowell goal was enough to see off a gritty Norton side, before Runcorn recorded their first ever victory at the Silentnight Stadium, Barnoldswick. The highlight of an action packed afternoon was Matt Cross’s fantastic overhead kick, which incidentally has had nearly twice as many hits on YouTube as the whole population of Barnoldswick (I wonder how many were Crossy!). Unsurprisingly, Matt deservedly picked up the goal of the season for the goal. Where November’s foe was rain, January’s was snow. Just as the Linnets appeared to have hit a bit of form, four games in a row were postponed. The games included 2 attempts against Alsager in the Senior Cup and league games against Wigan Robin Park and Glossop. The snow finally did melt and the month was closed out with a blockbuster of a game against Bootle at the MLS. Runcorn came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in pulsating game to end January on a high. The fact that it was done with 10 men for the last half an hour after Kyle Hamid’s ridiculous sending off, made it so much sweeter.

February – On the up...

By February, winning was becoming a habit; a very enjoyable habit. The month’s opener saw a Gavin Salmon double help sweep St Helen’s aside, before Runcorn set up a Cheshire Senior Cup Quarter Final tie with Stalybridge, courtesy of their third victory of the season at Alsager. Next up were Silsden at home. The day belonged to Ross McDowell who netted four of the Linnets’ six goals to punish the struggling Yorkshire outfit. It’s fair to say a rise up the table was well and truly underway. That was put on hold for one week though, as Runcorn secured their second Quarter Final of the season, this time in the League Challenge Cup thanks to a satisfying extra time victory over Winsford. Mark Houghton’s second in two games sunk Lloyd Morrison’s men. Runcorn faced nine games on the road following the win, but mercifully received a home draw against Bootle which would punctuate their travels. February was closed out with two more away league games at Wigan Robin Park and St Helen’s to take the winning streak to seven. Six of the best saw off 10 man Wigan, with debutants Lee Madin and Chris Lomax both netting. Madin popped up again a few days later to grab the winner at Edge Green Street. Not only were we winning, but the football being offered up was without doubt some of the best in the Runcorn modern era. Awards starting flying into the MLS, with Joey and Tommo picking up the league manager and player of the month respectively.

March – Extra Time again...

March proved to be a busy month, but of the nine scheduled games, only seven were able to go ahead, with away trips to Stone and Silsden thwarted. A fired up and physical Stockport side threatened to bring the league run to an end, but a brace of brilliant Gavin Salmon volleys in stoppage time meant Runcorn remained unbeaten in the league since 15th December. Although Runcorn went down 2-1 at Stalybridge in the Cheshire Senior Cup during the following midweek, the level of performance remained remarkably high. If anybody thought that the defeat would knock the stuffing out of The Linnets, they were quickly proved wrong. In the next two games, Bottle were beaten once again at the MLS, and once again in the most dramatic fashion, before table toppers Padiham were comfortably beaten at The Arbories Memorial Sports Ground. Going into extra time with 9 v 10 against Bootle, Runcorn defied all the odds to make it through to the League Challenge Cup Semi Final thanks to another Mark Houghton goal. Despite going two up in the first half, the ultimate league winners were then destroyed by a devastating second half Runcorn performance. A cagy away draw at Winsford and a 2-1 win at Glossop thanks to two Kyle Hamid penalties meant the incredible form continued. March was rounded off with yet more extra time in the League Challenge Cup, but this time penalties were also required to see off Cheadle and send Runcorn through to the May showpiece. After a stunning impact since December, the appointments of Joey and his backroom staff were made permanent in March.

April – 106 days...

The unbeaten league run finally came to an end on Easter Monday, after 106 days without defeat. Runcorn deserved more from a game where two goals to one are the only stats that really matter, but five bookings to zero was also significant of the approach of the two teams on the day. Draws at home to Padiham and away to Congleton followed, before three more successive wins. Five of the best sent Brent Peters and his Bacup side packing from the MLS and three goals a game were enough to see off Stone away and Wigan at home. Despite points being accumulated at an impressive rate, the league title was ultimately a step too far this time around, so thoughts began turning to the final in May. With rotation playing a big part, Runcorn went down at AFC Liverpool and at home to Glossop in the final two games of the month. In hindsight, nobody was particularly bothered, because cup fever had taken hold and the biggest thing from the games was a clean bill of health.

May – One glorious night in Curzon...

As a football fan, all you really want to know when you pull on your colours on a Saturday morning (or a Thursday evening), is that the players that will be doing the same later that day to represent you and your club, care as much about that shirt as you do. Thursday 02nd May this year proved that the current crop of players do. A fantastic performance from the squad, combined with tactical brilliance from the bench produced a superb 3-0 win over Formby and a night to remember for Linnets fans. To be part of such a fantastic Runcorn support on the night really was quite humbling and provided the undoubted highlight of the season. A defeat at Silsden on the final day of the season, notable only for Michael Burke’s long awaited first goal, didn’t knock the shine off the achievement one little bit. The second half of the season showed what this squad are capable of and they gave us many memorable moments which provide great hope of more success next season.

MICHAEL Ellison was named Supporters Club player of the year and joined team-mate Matthew Atherton in a double take at Runcorn Linnets’ successful presentation night.

Both players picked up two awards - rewards not only for their consistently high performance levels but also staying loyal after the mid-term resignation of former manager Paul McNally.

The arrival of boss Joey Dunn, his assistant Stuart Humphreys and an injection of new blood to the playing staff transformed the club’s fortunes in the second half of the campaign.

An upsurge in form saw Linnets haul themselves into outside title contention before finishing sixth in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

A memorable climax to 2012-13 had also brought the club its first senior trophy since formation seven years ago with the lifting of the NWCL Challenge Cup earlier this month.

A 400-strong Linnets following cheered their favourites on to a 3-0 victory over Division One champions Formby at Tameside Stadium in Ashton-under-Lyne.

When it came to deciding who should win the annual awards, Ellison as the fulcrum of the Linnets’ midfield, and ever-popular wide man Atherton were clearly never far from the supporters’ thoughts.

As well as being the fans’ choice for Player of the Year, receiving his trophy from Supporters’ Club chairman Stuart Houghton, Ellison received the Players’ Player of the Year award, presented by manager Dunn.

Meanwhile, Atherton picked up the Bill Philcock Memorial Trophy as the Away Player of the Year from Linnets Travel Club organiser and Trust board member John Greenhalgh.

The winger was also handed the award for Young Linnets’ Player of the Season by Taylor Pendleton, who had been team mascot for the league cup final win.

Right back Michael Duffy’s all-action displays in attack and defence were recognised with the Home Player of the Year prize, this award being based on the votes of opposition clubs, with octogenarian fan Phil Tyler making the presentation.

Matty Cross’s spectacular effort in January’s 2-1 win at Barnoldswick Town topped a club website poll for Goal of the Season.

This was of little surprise as teenage supporter James Eastup’s video clip of the overhead kick became an internet sensation. A maiden win at ‘Barlick’ also proved a catalyst for progress. Utility man Cross collected the Wilf Bettley Trophy from Wilf’s widow Joan and son Dave.

Susan Bell presented The Noel Bell Memorial Award in honour of her late husband, a former Supporters’ Club chairman, to Phil Wainright.

A Linnets fan for 50 years, the recipient is Runcorn Linnets’ treasurer, also holding the same position with the Supporters’ Club.

Linnets President, Alan Jones, made his annual award to Ross McDowell as the club's leading goalscorer this season.

Presentations were made by club chairman Derek Greenwood and Trust secretary Dave Bettley to supporter Julie Hardaway, who sponsored the awards evening, and retiring assistant Trust secretary/membership secretary Simon Charlesworth.

In a speech, Joey Dunn said the foundations had now been laid with the cup win and it was now important to build on this success, adding all the players were relishing the challenge.

He commented on the superb backing he and the squad had received from the fans and also club officials before presenting the manager’s award to Trust board member Rob Johnston for his all-round contribution to the running of Runcorn Linnets.

One of the biggest turnouts for a presentation night in the Millbank Linnets Stadium clubhouse was treated by Mark Buckley, Trust board member and compère for the evening, to an informative and hugely-entertaining overview of a rollercoaster first-team season.

‘Bucko’ made a presentation to Neil Greenwood, who is stepping down after a valued three-and-a-half years stint as match reporter for the club website, programme and local press.

During the event, the football club received cheques for £1,000 from the Supporters Club and £500 from the Travel Club.

Runcorn Linnets are pleased to announce that Club Sponsor Millbank Group, a UK market leading resource management solution provider who operate from headquarters in Runcorn, is exercising its option to extend its sponsorship deal for a further two years. Millbank Group have been the club sponsor for the three years since the club returned to the town in 2010. Linnets Chairman, Derek Greenwood said "We are delighted that Millbank have taken up their option for a further two years on their club sponsorship. We are very grateful for their continued support". David Hopley, Managing Director of Millbank Group said "We are very impressed with the professional approach shown by everybody connected with Runcorn Linnets FC. The club has certainly come a long way in such a short time back in the town. Millbank are always keen to support local ventures, especially ones that put a lot back into the community, and Runcorn Linnets FC are a true Community club. We are very pleased then, to extend our current sponsorship deal and look forward to increasing success at the club over the coming seasons".

LINNETS fans of long standing are remembering the freescoring exploits of Alan Arnell after the death earlier this week of the former Canal Street favourite aged 79.

Renowned centre forward Arnell joined Runcorn in the twilight of his career, having made his name with Liverpool where he spent eight years and proved a more than useful squad player.

He spent two seasons leading the attack for Jack Boothway’s men and in the first of these, 1964-65, was a prolific marksman in the side which lifted the Cheshire Senior Cup – Runcorn defeating Tranmere Rovers 3-2 in a replayed final at Chester, after a goalless draw in the initial tie, also at Sealand Road.

Manager Boothway said after the final: “I am a very happy manager. Our boys really did us proud in the replay and it was the greatest final of our last three visits”.

Runcorn had won the 1961-62 final against Hyde United before losing to the same opposition the following season.

Boothway added: “I once wrote that I had never had the honour of winning the Cheshire Senior Cup with most of my football career having been spent in Lancashire and Derbyshire amd I will be forever grateful to Runcorn for having achieved this honour twice.”

Arnell made a free-scoring contribution to the success of the 64-65 team, which finished third in the Cheshire League behind champions Wigan Athletic and runners-up Macclesfield.

Although his final campaign tally is not known, he had been credited with 35 going into the final home match of that season against Rhyl.

Arnell was outscored by inside right Dave Gorrie, who had already racked up 41 goals in total. Needless to say, they formed a lethal partnership.

Their contemporaries included goalkeeper Jim Cumbes, destined for a League career with Tranmere Rovers and Aston Villa, centre half Jock Cunningham (who had captained Runcorn’s title winners of 1961-62) and inside left Eddie Moss, regarded by many good judges as the most gifted player to have put on a Linnets shirt.

The 1965-66 season brought Arnell’s playing farewell, Runcorn ending up fifth as Altrincham took the championship although his involvement with the club was prolonged as a director.

Born in Sussex, on November 25 1933, Arnell had first caught the eye as an amateur player in his home county with Worthing.

He was captured by Don Welsh, then Liverpool manager, in 1953 and while first-team appearances in an eight-years stay were limited to 69 – he was in the shadows cast by the great Billy Liddell – Arnell’s 33 goals proved his scoring capabilities.

These credentials were underlined by another 34 goals in 68 games for Tranmere Rovers , who he joined in February 1961, and six in 14 outings with Halifax Town prior to his arrival at Canal Street.

Described as exceptionally strong in their air, the 6ft 1 in, 12st 8lb forward had been twice capped as a schoolboy, and is well remembered by Runcorn Linnets’ matchday announcer Ian Knowles for the power of his shooting.

He said: “In one of his first games we played against Tranmere and Alan hit the ball from 25 yards against the angle of the post and crossbar.

“We went onto the pitch after the game and where it had struck the woodwork, you could see there was a split there. You could tell the pace the shot had been going at.”

Arnell, who died on Sunday May 5, had returned to his native Chichester in 1968 and spent 25 years in the pub trade with his wife Rosemary. The couple had been due to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary next year.

Mrs Arnell told www.liverpoolfc.com: “Alan was a very good footballer but was also a very modest man and didn’t really talk about himself.”