Runcorn Linnets are to celebrate Non-League Day this Saturday by offering cut-price admission to season ticket holders of other football and sports clubs.

They will be afforded entry for the game against Market Drayton Town at the concessionary rate of £5, on production of their season pass at the turnstile.

This is the chance for supporters of Premier League and EFL clubs to embrace and support the wider game and an opportunity for followers of other sports, such as rugby league and rugby union, to likewise sample the delights of football outside the top four divisions.

At Runcorn, you can enjoy a pre-match pie and a pint in the bar ahead of a traditional 3pm Saturday kick-off, watch the game in a friendly atmosphere - no segregation means you can move around the ground, changing ends at half-time, and take a seat in the stands at no extra charge - and on the final whistle retire to the clubhouse to mix with the manager and players.

This is another key Step 4 National Leagues System fixture as Linnets' bid to reach the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division Play-offs for the first time.

Runcorn Linnets play at APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ.

Runcorn East Railway Station is nearby with connections on the adjacent Runcorn Busway (departing from the station side) to Ormiston Bollingbroke Academy, leaving a five-minute walk to the ground.

There is also a bus service from the mainline Runcorn Railway Station and a very efficient taxi service from all parts of town, courtesy of our stadium sponsors APEC Taxis!

Always scheduled to coincide with an international break, Non-League Day provides a platform for clubs to promote the importance of affordable volunteer-led community football while giving fans across the country the chance to show support for their local non-league side.

Many non-league clubs, Linnets included, are almost exclusively volunteer run, with money taken at the turnstiles often supporting thriving youth set-ups, projects and facilities which are of benefit to the whole community.

The level of skill on offer at non-league grounds might not be the same as that at Anfield, Goodison, Old Trafford or The Etihad, for example - although you might be pleasantly surprised at the standard.

As for the other sides of the experience, the smaller club will always win hands down!

Whether you're a Premier League or Championship fan without a game, a League One or League Two supporter who can't make an away trip, or just someone who is curious about what their local club has to offer, there is sure to be something to interest everyone.

Why not give it a try!

Runcorn football is mourning one of its biggest characters after the death of Peter Eales.

Peter was an outstanding and larger than life goalkeeper, who ultimately turned from villain to hero in the eyes of Linnets supporters.

He was the veteran custodian in Runcorn AFC's 1980-81 Northern Premier League treble season, having so often been the Canal Street club's nemesis over a long and distinguised semi-professional career.

To say Peter was a shock Runcorn acquisition would be a major understatement; the announcement of his signing was a jaw-dropper.

But manager John Williams's confidence in him would be more than justified.

Peter rolled back the years with some accomplished performances - and a fair few remarkable saves along the way - as the Linnets memorably marched to a second NPL title, the competition in those days comprising just the one division.

Runcorn conceded only 22 times in 42 league games with three defeats, 'Ealesy' keeping goal for the majority of these matches, with Ian Holbrook occasionally deputising.

Not content with this, Runcorn lifted the NPL Challenge Cup for a second successive season thanks to a thrilling 4-3 defeat of Marine at Manchester City's then home, Maine Road - although Holbrook was in goal for this tie.

The NPL Challenge Shield, for which Linnets had qualified as the League Cup holders, was also added to the trophy cabinet.

Eales's heroics for the Linnets were a far cry from his earlier reputation as the goalkeeper Runcorn fans "loved to hate".

He had most notably held the Linnets at bay with Altrincham, in the second of Runcorn's three FA Trophy semi-final defeats in the 1970s.

An enduring memory of that tie was the sight of 'Ealesy' dribbling down the touchline in the goalless first leg of a tense affair at Moss Lane.

The only score of the contest came in the Canal Street return, courtesy of, as fate would have it, ex-Linnets favourite Malcolm Bailey.

The 80-81 season proved to be Peter's swansong in terms of regular action for Runcorn.

He was succeeded as No1 by Brian Parker, signed from Yeovil Town, for their successful 1981-82 entry into the Alliance Premier League.

Peter made six appearances as Runcorn took the higher (and highest non-league) division by storm to be crowned champions.

Peter's subequent 'retirement' after a spell at Macclesfield Town, waa intermittently broken by the odd emergency comeback.

A single appearance in 1984-85 and nine more in 1985-86 took Peter's appearance total for Runcorn in England semi-pro's top flight - under its various early guises of APL, Gola League and Vauxhall Conference - to 16.

In 1986, he had a place on the Wembley bench as a member of the Linnets' coaching staff.

The opposition, ironically, was from Altrincham, who again prevailed 1-0 in Runcorn's long-awaited first FA Trophy final.

Stories of Peter's antics on and off the field are as legendary as his playing achievements.

There are tales of him taking the pitch at Canal Street as a visiting 'keeper carrying a handbag and in his later Runcorn days being summoned from the bar at the Wilson's Hotel to deputise - after regular keeper Ray McBride had taken ill before kick-off.

Prior to arriving at Alty and later Runcorn, Peter had not only performed with distinction but in his unique style. He also served Wigan Athletic, South Liverpool and Bangor City.

His manager at Runcorn once said that "he (Eales) continues to do a Pat Jennings", comparing the ageing shotstopper's resurgence with that of the evergreen Tottenham goalkeeper's career-extending spell at Arsenal.

Peter's eccentricity and brilliance might just as easily have likened him to Liverpool's Bruce Grobbelaar.

But one thing is for sure - North West non-league football in general, and Runcorn in particular, are unlikely to see his like again.

RIP 'Ealesy'.

The delayed 2021 Annual General Meeting of Runcorn Linnets Football Club Limited is to take place on Monday, March 28th at 7pm.

The agenda and papers will be posted or emailed to members on Monday (March 14th).

Our accountants, Burton Beavan are in the final throes of preparing the accounts for the year ending June 30th 2021 for presentation at the AGM and we are very hopeful that these will be issued in advance of the meeting.

We cannot rule out any unexpected late snags, which might present further difficulties, but will keep members updated.

We thank members for their continued patience and Burton Beavan for all their help while again apologising for any inconvenience caused by the earlier postponement.

The Trust Board of Runcorn Linnets has unanimously elected Peter Cartledge as the club's new chairman.

While congratulating Peter, board members passed on thanks and good wishes to Dave Jones, who resigned as chair at last night's meeting for health reasons but continues as a director.

Peter will stay on as club secretary for the remainder of the season to ensure continuity in the key administrative role.

Jeff Jago steps up to succeed Peter as the vice-chairman, Jeff's nomination being unopposed.

Peter Cartledge said: "Thanks to the board for appointing me as chairman, its a role that is an honour and a privilege to have and I feel very lucky.

"Special thanks to Dave for his honesty about his health issues and the dignified way he has stepped down, I am really pleased that he wishes to stay on the board.

"Moving forward, I am excited to continue to work with the board to drive the club forward, I am not in any way underestimating the challenge."

Jeff Jago said: "I am honoured to take on the role of vice-chairman at Runcorn Linnets Football Club.

"I've obviously got big shoes to fill with all the work Peter Cartledge had taken on and I would just like to say thank you to all board members for accepting me in this role, I'll give it my best."

Dave Jones said: "Due to personal reasons, I have made the difficult decision to step down as chairman.

"Late last year, I shared with you all my battle with my mental health, I felt I could deal with my issues and still be an effective chairman, but I have come to realise that I was wrong.

"It has been an absolute privilege to be the chairman of this great football club, but I step down in the knowledge that I am leaving the chairmanship in the very capable hands of my good friend Peter Cartledge.

"He has basically been the chairman whilst helping me through my issues and I know he will take the club on to even greater success on and off the field.

"I will remain on the board to support Pete and the club in any way I can but for now, I need to concentrate on getting better.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the last year, and I'll hopefully still see you all at games."

I understand from the outside looking in, it would appear that we are signing goalkeepers on a weekly basis. I wanted to use this opportunity to clarify the situation to our supporters relating to the goalkeeper position.

Obviously we began the season with Joe Young on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. We were able to utilise Joe during our pre-season fixtures which gave us a real opportunity to have a good look at him and integrate him within our group. Joe sustained an injury during November while training with Wolves. As a result, we signed Dermott Mee from Manchester United on a short term loan for the period that Joe would be injured. Obviously a number of games were postponed during this time which meant Dermott only played two games for us during his loan spell. Joe's loan ran until January as a loan of a professional (as opposed to a scholar) from a Premier League club can only happen from transfer window to transfer window. We had hoped to extend the loan, but quite rightly Joe had attracted interest from further up the pyramid and moved to Matlock Town when the transfer window opened.

Given how quickly this happened, we were in a position where we needed to replace Joe but weren't in a position where we could commit to anyone for the remainder of the season. We have a really tight knit group and are among the clubs that have used the fewest players during the season so far. We brought Jak Stewart in from Everton on a Work Experience loan as well as signing Scott Reed. Scott's previous club was Bangor City which meant we had to obtain International Clearance for him which ruled him out of some of January's fixtures. We dual registered Scott with Irlam upon his International Clearance being received to allow him to get some game time having not played for so long. Scott came in for the Colne and Workington games but sustained a finger injury on the Thursday evening training session before Trafford. It was out of the blue as he came to claim a ball right at the end of training. With this in mind and without being sure how long Scott would be injured for we had to sign a goalkeeper last Friday. Bolton Wanderers were really helpful in making Matt Alexander available and we took Matt on loan the day before the Trafford game. Matt sustained an injury during the Trafford game that became apparent during a training session at Bolton on Monday. Honestly, we began to wonder whether we were just cursed when it came to goalkeepers. Supporters have remarked to me that Linnets have never had any luck with goalkeepers as we were determined to do the right one.

In the background, Owen Mooney was a goalkeeper we had an interest in during the summer. He is an outstanding goalkeeper and has already made 25 appearances for Newcastle Town at the same level of football as ourselves this season. Owen's situation at Newcastle Town changed earlier this week and we were able to agree a loan deal after our midweek game against Marine. Owen isn't a goalkeeper we are just taking a chance on, he is a talented boy that has shown how capable he is at this level of football and we are delighted to have him on board until the end of the season. A loan goalkeeper is something I see as really beneficial at this level, as it gives you the opportunity to have a player that is training every day at a full-time club further up the pyramid. I think we saw the benefits of this with Joe Young earlier in the season and we are excited to have Owen with us.

I understand frustrations at the way things have played out. I realise supporters are keen to form a bond with our players the way that they have with our team this season. We look forward to the final eleven games of the season with real excitement for what lies ahead and know what a big part our supporters will have to play.