On behalf of all the staff and players at Runcorn Linnets, I would like to take the opportunity to wish each and every one of our supporters a very Merry Christmas and thank them for their incredible support so far this season.

We have a group of players and staff that are very proud to represent this club. We were so pleased to be able to give the travelling support at Widnes an early Christmas present with three points in the Halton derby last week. I cannot put into words how simply stunning the support we received last Saturday was. There were hundreds upon hundreds of travelling Linnets fans and they made themselves heard for 90 minutes. The reception they gave our players at full-time was incredible and I know how appreciative the lads were of that level of backing. Those type of numbers and that type of support just doesn't happen in the eighth tier of English football, it highlights once again how unique this football club is and how passionate it's supporters are.

It felt like a really important moment for our team last Saturday. For our management team, it was our 40th game in charge of this club and it felt as if the connection between this group of players and the supporters was there for all to see. That is really genuine. I get to know these lads inside out and they are immensely committed to one another, the group and the club. They are really proud of what they are trying to build here and I can't praise them enough.

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of our supporters and volunteers who have played their part so far this season. The numbers that have followed us around the North of England are incredible. They have spent their time and money supporting our team and we are so grateful for that. Equally, they have turned out in force at home, sealing a record home attendance in our FA Trophy tie against FC United earlier this season. I am so pleased that these home attendances have made the work of an incredible team of volunteers worthwhile. From the moment I arrived at the club, I have been simply stunned at the volume and commitment from an army of volunteers that keep this club operating. Their work through the week, on a match day and behind the scenes is phenomenal and without them there is no football team to support each Saturday. As a football team we are immensely appreciative of those in the tea bar, those working around the ground and every single person that makes this football club what it is week in and week out. We head into this Christmas period so pleased with the start we have made on the pitch, but it doesn't happen without those that have supported us so unconditionally.

That togetherness around a football club is the most important thing. Those that clean the changing rooms, those that come and watch us and those that play in yellow and green are all part of the same team. To each of our supporters and volunteers, we thank you for your efforts and your support and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas. You really deserve it.

I can't promise that everything will always be perfect, but I can promise we won't stop trying to be.

Happy Christmas - I can't wait to see you on the 27th.

Calum

Men's Team

We made the short journey over the water to play Widnes last Saturday and it was certainly worth the trip. I sublime Iwan Murray hattrick and goals from Dapo and Sean O'Mahony saw us take all three points in the Halton derby.

The away support was fantastic once again and you basically turned it into a home game, the attendance broke their club record attendance and we now have the highest average away attendances in the West Division. I went pitch side at the end of the game and the reception you gave the players was amazing and I know they really appreciate it.

Next up is our festive fixture on Monday 27th December against Prescot Cables at the APEC Taxis Stadium. Cables have had some very interesting results recently so it's sure to be an entertaining game.

Mental Health

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who replied to last week's update or reached out to me personally after I opened up about my mental health issues. I was genuinely touched by them all and also by the offers to help. I would like to make a special thank you to Vice President Paul Eastup, who contacted me to offer to help me sort out the information required by our Accountants.

Mental Health is a massive issue at this time of year, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding the increase in COVID infections and the possibility of further restrictions. Mental Health services have been decimated by government cuts but help is still available. A variety of free services are available for people experiencing crisis.

The following three are featured on the NHS Website and staffed by trained volunteers:

• Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected] for a reply within 24 hours.

• Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Helpline , or text "YM" if under the age of 19.

• Anyone aged under 19 can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline . The number will not appear on any phone bill.

Halton Borough Council also has a wide range of contact information for support services on its website at Halton Borough Council

Please reach out if you need help.

Christmas This is my last update before Christmas, so I just wanted to say a massive thank you to all our volunteers for their hard work this year. It doesn't matter what you do, without you we simply wouldn't be able to run this football club.

Merry Christmas to all our players, staff, fans and volunteers. See you on Monday.

Thank you all for reading.

Dave Jones

Runcorn Linnets FC - Chairman

Men's Team

We entertained Glossop North End on Saturday where a disappointing performance in difficult weather conditions resulted in a 1-1 draw. Whilst not the result we would have wanted it was important that we didn't lose. Although the attendance was down on what we have been getting, 445 is still a very good crowd considering the opposition, the weather, and the proximity to Christmas.

We travelled to table toppers Marine on Tuesday and I still have no idea how we didn't go in at half time at least one goal up. We were excellent in the first half and showed that we can play as well as anyone in this division. Marine made us rue our missed chances with three quick fire goals and a late goal from Ryan Brooke wasn't enough to get us back into the game but there were many reasons to be optimistic for future games.

The away support was brilliant and many of the coaching staff and players have commented on how loud you all were.

Pitch Issues

In his post-match interview following the Glossop game Calum mentioned issues with the hybrid pitch at the APEC Taxis Stadium and I just wanted to clear a few things up.

Firstly, the pitch is admittedly not in the best condition but we have this pitch as part of a pilot scheme ran by the Football Foundation and part of that pilot it to see how it can hold up in this part of the country with continued use. The pitch gets used by the men's team, Ladies team, Development team, the ESPFA Academy team, the Juniors and other commercial hirers. It gets so much use as that is part of our agreement with the Football Foundation. I'm not an expert on grass or football pitches but Jeff Jago is and I know he is doing everything he can to keep the pitch in as good condition as possible within the parameters he has to work with.

One of the things Calum said in his interview which seems to have caused a few rumours and questions was that the team was unable to train on the pitch. The men's team have exclusive use of the pitch for training on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm. On Tuesday 7th December the pitch was available for use as it always is and in fact, we had cancelled all other training on it. What Calum was referring to was that when he arrived early for training, he didn't feel the pitch was in a condition to be played on and therefore he had to cancel training for the team.

Pete Cartledge and I met with Calum after the Glossop game and had a frank discussion about the pitch and what we could do to improve the situation. We will now put a plan in place to manage the pitch through the difficult winter months.

Postponement of the 2021 AGM

I want to apologise unreservedly to all Trust Members for the late postponement of this year's AGM. A good leader acknowledges and takes responsibility for all their failures and the postponement was 100% my fault.

I have suffered with anxiety and depression for many years now. Most of the time I am able to manage it and go about my daily life fairly normally. Over the last 6 months a number of things have happened in my personal life that have taken a toll on my mental health and the last couple of months I have been suffering with severe anxiety and depression. These illnesses make it difficult to function never mind carry out important tasks and this added to a full time job and the day to day tasks of being a chairman of a non-league football club meant that I was unable to provide our Accountants with the information they require to produce our annual accounts. There are absolutely no issues or concerns with our finances or accounts, I simply haven't done it. Another aspect of mental health issues is that it makes it almost impossible to admit you're struggling and ask for help, so I kept it to myself hoping I could sort it out.

On Monday I spoke to my doctor and was signed off for another two weeks and that meant I would be unable to Chair the AGM as I was unable to work. I finally reached out to my Vice Chairman and friend Pete Cartledge and he did what he has always done and supported me by speaking to Dave Bettley and taking advice from the Football Supporters Association and based on that advise the decision was made to postpone the AGM.

Anyone who knows me, will know that I am a very private person, I keep a lot of things to myself and it has been very difficult for me to share this with you all but I have done so for two reasons. Firstly, I always face up to my mistakes and it's important that although as a Board of Directors we are team and they have all supported me, it is me that takes responsibility. Secondly, lots of people suffer with mental health issues and everyone should be able to speak out without fear of ridicule or people thinking less of them.

I would say to anyone that is struggling mentally to reach out to someone, it really does help to share it and speak about it, no one will think any less of you.

Thank you all for reading.

Dave Jones

Runcorn Linnets FC - Chairman

As you will probably be aware, the Trust Board on Tuesday made the decision to postpone last night's Annual General Meeting of the club.

Unfortunately, this was at very short notice and we as a board and club apologise for that.

People will no doubt have been wondering about the reasons for the postponement, which as we said in our original release are numerous.

The main cause of the postponement is that we have been unable to finalise the accounts in time for presentation at the meeting.

This is entirely the fault of the club.

We will serve our accountants Burton Beavan with the required information in time for a full financial report to be available at the rescheduled AGM in mid-January,

The delay in producing accounts is mostly down to pressure of club-related work and there are no issues of concern with the accounts themselves.

We did consider until the very last minute going ahead with a meeting to pass on the news to members in person but we would still have had to reconvene the AGM.

With the spiralling health emergency and uncertainty continuing to surround the new Covid variant, it would not have been the best time to meet informally.

We realise that many of our fans would have been (and will be) wary of gathering in numbers indoors, particularly with Christmas fast approaching.

The final straw was unexpected but pressing personal matters, non-club related, which would have prevented a number of club officials from attending the scheduled AGM.

We discussed the postponement with the Football Supporters Association (FSA) by email on Tuesday morning and in person at our game at Marine, which coincidentally the same representative had already agreed to attend.

He did not see any major problem with the decision so long as the AGM is rearranged for mid-January which is now our intention.

We can assure members that the postponement decision was not taken lightly and the board can only apologise again for the eleventh-hour call-off.

Due to multiple unforeseeable circumstances we have had to postpone tomorrow nights AGM (15th December) until mid January.

Both the date and format of the new AGM meeting will be confirmed at a later date.

We apologise for any inconvenience.