Runcorn lost to Maine Road in the North West Counties Premier League at The Millbank Linnets Stadium with a score of 1-3. Maine Road went ahead in the 26th minute. Martin Crowder equalised from a free kick in the 43rd minute. Maine Road went ahead in the 70th minute. Maine Road increased their lead in the 85th minute.

Match Report

Runcorn lost to Bootle in the North West Counties Premier League at Delta Taxis Stadium with a score of 2-0. Bootle scored in added time of the second half. Bootle increased their lead in added time of the second half.

Match Report

WARM WELCOME: Aussie hopeful Lachlan Davis with
Runcorn Linnets’ club captain Rob Whyte (left) and
reserve team boss Jay Maddock (right).

Lachlan Davis proved his ambitions to one day play professionally know no bounds by flying halfway round the world to spend a week with the North West Counties League club.

After showing up well in training with the Linnets’ under-16s and reserve sides, he is set to return to the Millbank Linnets Stadium next summer for an extended trial.

The 15-year-old, who was accompanied on his flying visit to Cheshire by dad Steve, has already made good progress in junior soccer back home in New South Wales.

Promising performances for club side Henwood Park in Wagga Wagga saw the attacking midfield player selected for the district and then his regional representative side Riverina in the State finals.

Pitched against five Sydney outfits in the nine-team tournament, Lachlan and his colleagues picked up the Country Cup, for non-city sides, and fourth place overall.

The competition meant a five-hour round trip but that was nothing compared to this latest venture which culminated in the Aussie father and son attending Linnets’ home FA Carlsberg Vase tie against county rivals Winsford United on Saturday (October 13).

The pair’s trans-hemisphere journey was engineered by Phil Booth, a one-time Runcorn junior coach now living Down Under.

Dad Steve explained: “We initially got Phil as a technical coach for Lachy, giving one-to-one tuition.

“But he then put us onto Jay Maddock, the Linnets reserves manager, and gave us a recommendation.”

Lachlan and Steve admitted the Linnets’ ground and facilities, although modest compared even to some English semi-pro clubs, are in a different league to what they are used to in the bush.

Steve said: “Runcorn’s following is really impressive. The set-up here is a ripper and the ground is phenomenal.

“Our club back home has a small shed as a clubhouse, which stores all the gear. We don’t even have a shelter or a team bench.”

Staying in Widnes, the teenager and his dad did, however, get a small reminder of home when crossing the Silver Jubilee Bridge to Runcorn – it’s a similar design to the Sydney Harbour Bridge if only a fraction of the size.

Despite the efforts of the national side – dubbed the Socceroos - Lachlan admits soccer is progressing only slowly in Australia and remains a minority sport.

Aussie rules (AFL), rugby union or rugby league are still the premier choices for many aspiring NSW sportsmen – but not him.

Dad Steve added: “Soccer doesn’t get any money back home. We pay 230 dollars a year to register Lachy. In AFL we’d be paying 40 because they put a lot of money into the game and it filters down to the clubs.

“But Lachy has been playing soccer since the age of of six and it’s the only thing he has ever wanted to do. He wants to become a professional footballer and that’s it.”

With two years left of school time, Manchester United fan Lachlan hopes to get leave of absence from his studies to try his luck with Linnets next pre-season and if successful, spend the campaign in Runcorn before jetting home – in time for the Aussie season!

Steve said: “He’s has had his own set goal of coming over here to England and playing before he turned 18 and we have just moved it forward a couple of years.

“We were hoping we might be able to do something this season but left it a bit too late, not knowing the set-up.

“But it has been a worthwhile exercise coming over and seeing the club. We hope to come over properly next year in pre-season and sort things out.”

Linnets reserve team manager Jay Maddock said: “We were all very impressed with Lachlan’s ability and drive plus the commitment of his family to help the lad follow his dream. We look forward to seeing him again next year.”

Runcorn lost to Winsford Utd in the FA Vase at The Millbank Linnets Stadium with a score of 1-3. Winsford Utd went ahead in the 10th minute. Matty Jones equalised with a header in the 65th minute. Winsford Utd scored in the 81st minute. Winsford Utd increased their lead in the 90th minute.

Match Report

The club has signed a few new players in the last week. Dave McNamara, who is a goalkeeper, and Michael Wilson join the Reserves, and Martin Crowder, a left back, has joined the first team. His previous clubs include Burscough, Colwyn Bay, Warrington, and Skelmersdale. We wish good luck to them all, and extend a warm welcome.