Draws have been made for the early rounds of the national FA competitions, involving Runcorn Linnets.

In the Emirates FA Cup, we have an exemption until the preliminary round in which we will be away to the winners of the extra preliminary tie, Trafford v AFC Liverpool. Our tie will be played on  Saturday, August 20th.

Our Isuzu FA Trophy campaign launches on Saturday September 10 when we will visit Workington in the first qualifying round.

If successful, we will go to North Shields or Pontefract Colls in the second qualifier on Saturday, September 24.

The FA Youth Cup draw has pitched our youth team at home to Clitheroe in the preliminary round in week commencing Monday, August 29), Linnets having been spared duty in the extra prelim.

Our second signing of the evening, like the first a centre half standing at 6ft 4in, might be new to the club -  but he has something of a Linnets pedigree.

Sam Heathcote's dad Graham served our predecessor club Runcorn AFC in the mid to late 1980s as assistant to manager John King, having been an outstanding midfield player for Altrincham.

Sam duly followed in his father's footsteps by representing the Robins but he joins us from West Didsbury & Chorlton, who he captained to the North West Counties League Division One South title in 2021-22.

Sam had been with the Mancunians since December 2019.

He started as a junior with Manchester United, playing at centre forward.

However, his senior career was launched as a centre half - albeit a goalscoring one!

Sam made a remarkable entrance for Altrincham as an 18-year-old to grab a stoppage-time Moss Lane goal against Cheltenham Town with only his second touch of his debut!

The effort, in September 2015, earned Sam's hometown club a 2-1 win in the Vanarana National League.

He went on to make 50 more senior appearances for Altrincham.

2016-17 saw the player being loaned to Hyde United, where he made six appearances and in 2017-18 Sam played 29 times for Ramsbottom United.

Operating as a makeshift striker, he netted 11 goals. One of these ironically came against Altrincham at Moss Lane in the FA Trophy, although it was only consolation in a 4-1 defeat.

Sam returned to Hyde United, if only briefly, and upon leaving the Tamesiders in August 2018, he appeared against Linnets for Trafford early in our first NPL season.

The player subsequently opted to return to Altrincham to play Reserve team football to "get back enjoyment" from football.

Just before Christmas 2018, Sam moved to Wythenshawe Town and in September 2019, he linked up with Widnes.

Among his five outings for our Halton neighbours was a 2-1 home defeat by Runcorn Linnets.

It was from there that Sam signed for West Didsbury & Chorlton, where his influence in last season's success was plain to see as he scored an astonishing 30 goals from defence.

As farewells were said earlier this week, West's manager Chris Rowley described Sam as a "leader on and off the field".

Welcome to Runcorn Linnets, Sam.We are sure you'll like it here!

Tom Moore is the third English import from Welsh football this summer for Runcorn Linnets, the towering centre back arriving from Connah's Quay Nomads.

Tom joined the then Cymru Premier League champions in early 2021 but found opportunities limited, not least because Covid restrictions in the principality caused football to be suspended.

He did, however, experience European football with Nomads and scored from a free-kick against Kosovan side Prishtina - albeit in UEFA Europa Conference League defeat for the Flintshire outfit.

It was a second time, unfortunately that coronavirus had dealt a blow to the Merseysider's ambitions.

Tom had been on the brink of signing a one-year deal at Scottish Championship club Inverness Caledonian Thistle when Covid prompted the club to pull out due to concerns over the financial impact of the pandemic.

Tom had spent two weeks training with Calley and had even been handed a squad number.

There was a promise of the move being revived when times were more certain, but instead, he signed a contract at Connah's Quay.

Even that move was not without drama as the Nomads discovered half an hour before the transfer deadline that the player was still registered with Widnes.

Fortunately for Tom, this wasn't a deal-breaker.

Other clubs including National League North's AFC Fylde and Scottish League One club Forfar Athletic had been chasing the signature of the giant, ball-playing defender.

Tom had previously served home town club Marine and spent a season in Sweden with Ytterhogdals IK.

Although primarily a central defender, Tom is a good technician who can pick a pass to players in front of him and is also well capable of filling a holding  midfield role.

It was in the middle of the park that Tom first came to prominence in Marine's successful Under 18s side before signing Northern Premier League forms with them in November 2016.

WingerJames Ellison and goalkeeper Andy Coughlin are the other players to have switched to Runcorn Linnets from North Wales clubs this off season, both having most recently played for Colwyn Bay.

We are very pleased to welcome Tom and wish him a fruitful and enjoyable stay at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Front man Nialle Rodney is the newest addition to our 2022-23 squad.

The 31-year-old most recently played for Ramsbottom United but has been away from the game for a while.

He had two stints at Rammy, playing in between at FC United of Manchester, Lancaster City and Ashton United.

First time around at Harry Williams Riverside Stadium, Nialle was a team-mate of our now assistant manager Jamie Rainford.

Nialle is an experienced and much-travelled forward, who played for Nottingham Forest, Bradford City and Hartlepool United.

In 2014, he retired from professional football to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Nialle started out at his native Nottingham, coming through Forest's Academy.

After being loaned to Ilkeston Town in 2009-10, his first senior appearance for his parent club was in November 2010, when he cane off the bench against Cardiff City.

A one-month loan deal with Burton Albion in EFL Two was limited to three appearances as he sustained an ankle injury.

On leaving Forest, Nialle went to Bradford City, again in EFL Two on a one-year deal in July 2011.

In October 2011, Nialle moved into the Conference National with Darlington on a short-term loan, the following month heading for Mansfield Town in the same division - also on loan.

He signed for another Conference club Lincoln City in January 2012 until the end of that season before  going to Hartlepool Uniter of EFL Two on a one-year deal after a brief stay at AFC Telford United.

Nialle returned from football exile to play for Grantham & District League team Greyhounders.

He subsequently played for Spalding, Coalville Town, Long Eaton United and Wythenshawe Amateurs.

We welcome Nialle to APEC Taxis Stadium and wish him an enjoyable and successful stay.

As preparations continue for the 2022-23 season, there is an opportunity for Linnets fans to become acquainted with new boss Dave Wild and his backroom team.

A "Meet the Manager" evening has been arranged for Friday, July 1st in the clubhouse at APEC Taxis Stadium.

Dave will deliver all the latest news on his squad building and expand on hopes, aspirations and prospects for the campaign as he settles into the post.

There will also be appearances from assistant manager Jamie Rainford - familiar, of course, to many Linnets fans as a former Runcorn player and opponent - first-team coach Billy Paynter, Liam "Fessi" Hudson (our data analyst and player liaison officer), sports therapist Jack Gleave and goalkeeper coach David Phillips, who is already known by the vast majority of Linnets supporters.

This is a chance for fans, old and new, to hear at first hand the work Dave Wild and his staff have been undertaking since arriving at Runcorn and to ask questions of the management, coaching and support staff. The event kicks off at 7pm and we are sure there will be a good turnout as anticipation grows for pre-season games and the kick off to the competitive season.

The 55th Northern Premier League campaign kicks off on Saturday, August 13th with West Division fixtures expected to be released in mid-July.