Local people in the Runcorn area are getting ready to celebrate the opening of a new football stadium. The official opening of The Millbank Linnets Stadium will take place at 2.15pm on Saturday, 17th July 2010, when the Linnets welcome Witton Albion FC as their first ever opponents at the new facility. Turnstiles will open at 1.00pm and the afternoon will start with a curtain raiser between Under 13 representative teams. Former players have been invited back to take part in the official opening, as well as the local MPs, representatives from Halton Borough Council, the county and local Football Association officers and club sponsors.

The new stadium will allow Runcorn Linnets to play back in the town for the first time since the old club left Canal Street in 2001. As well as the first team, the club will also run reserve and youth teams and have also established a link with local junior set up Inter Union JFC, who have now renamed themselves “Inter Linnets JFC”. The function room facilities at the site will also provide a base for local community groups.

The Football Stadia Improvement Fund, supporters of the Football Foundation, and the largest funder of non league football in the country, supported the project with a grant of £93,331

Over £90m has already been invested by the Football Stadia Improvement Fund since its launch in July 2000, funding lower league ground improvements throughout professional and amateur game, creating a safe and modern environment for fans and players to enjoy the game.

Derek Greenwood, Chairman of Runcorn Linnets said: “This will be a very proud moment for the club. For the last 4 years since the club was reformed, we have played out of town at Witton Albion’s excellent Wincham Park and we were delighted when Witton accepted our invitation to be our first opponents in the pre-season friendly at the new stadium. We would like to put on record our sincere thanks to Halton Borough Council and the Football Foundation for the help and support they have given to our project. We would also like to express our gratitude to Millbank for stepping in to sponsor the club, initially for the next 3 years. To our fans, sponsors and advertisers we offer thanks for all the help they have given us over the last 4 years to help us realise our ambition”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation said: “We are delighted that the club and the local community will have access to these fantastic new facilities and commend the club and the local FA for their hard work in making this happen.”

“Sport is playing a central role in helping people to stay fit, strengthen communities and promote responsibility amongst young people. This is the latest example of thousands of projects across the country that the Football Foundation is supporting with money provided by our funding partners the Premier League, The FA and Government.”