Men's Team

No game for the Men's team last weekend but results elsewhere saw us once again outside the play-off places but with games in hand.

We face Warrington Rylands at home this Saturday where a win could see us go second.  With us two points behind Warrington Rylands and them sitting in the play-off places, a win will definitely see us into the play-off places.  From what I saw of Warrington Rylands against Prescot Cables on Saturday, it is not going to be an easy game but we are definitely capable of getting the win.

With us catching up on games with everyone else in the next couple of months we will have a better idea of where we are but we are definitely in the mix at the top end of the table and deservedly so, given the quality of football Calum has got the lads playing.

Linnets Ladies

The Ladies played Hindley Women away on Sunday and unfortunately lost the game 6-0.  Performances are improving, we just need to convert our chances and turn good performances into wins.

Our next game is at the APEC Taxis Stadium in the Cheshire County Ladies Cup Preliminary Round against Ellesmere Port Town Ladies on Sunday at 2pm.  This is a big game for the Ladies and I urge as many fans as possible to come along and support them.  The tea bar and bar will be open with the Sky Sports games being shown in The Clubhouse.

Development Team

The Development Team continued their good form with a 3-0 win away at Witton Albion U21s.  That's back to back wins now for the young Linnets and hopefully signifies an upturn in fortunes for the rest of the season.

Our next game is home against Witton Albion U21s on Sunday 28th November.

The Development Team are looking for a new coach to work with manager Robbie Gibbons, if you are interested, please contact the club.

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Linnets in the Community

As part of our Linnets in the Community initiative our Community Engagement Manager Josh Christian took part in a knife sweep with Runcorn Police, Onward Housing and Halton Borough Council.

Officers from Runcorn Police will also be attending our game against Warrington Rylands to talk to our young fans about the serious impact of carrying a knife.

Ground Improvements

Spenny and the maintenance team have started work on getting cover behind the goal at the bottom end.  The framework is now in place and the next step will be to get sheeting to cover it.

I would like to take this opportunity to give a special mention to Spenny, his enthusiasm at the moment is infectious and he has saved the club a lot of money by doing the installation himself.  Thank you Spenny, your work is very much appreciated by me and the rest of the board.

Thank you all for reading.

Dave Jones

Runcorn Linnets FC - Chairman

Men's Team

The lads put in a battling performance against Trafford to earn a 1-1 with a late equaliser from Lloyd Marsh-Hughes after Trafford had taken an early lead. They never gave in and kept battling until the very end and if the game had gone on a little longer, I think we would have gotten a winner.

We then had a long trip up the M6 to face Kendal on Tuesday night. After a very good performance the Linnets got a deserved 3-0 win with goals from Iwan Murray, Ryan Brooke and Dapo Olarewaju. Kendal had put in a very dogged performance in the first half to keep the game goalless at half time but we just had too much for them in the second half and it felt inevitable that we would eventually get the goal.

Those two results took us into the play off positions and considering the way we have played so far this season; it is only what we deserve.

Linnets Ladies

The Ladies played Chester Women on Sunday and despite an improved performance from the Linnets we unfortunately lost 5-2. We need to remember that the Ladies have had a big step up in league's and had a lot of upheaval in the summer. The team is improving and I have no doubt that the results will come.

Our next game is away against Hindley Juniors Women on Sunday 14th November.

Development Team

The Development Team put in a great performance at the APEC Taxis Stadium and ran out 3-0 winners against St Helens Town U21s.

Our next game is away against Witton Albion Development Squad on Sunday 14th November.

The Development Team are looking for a new coach to work with manager Robbie Gibbons, if you are interested, please contact the club.

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Academy Team

Our ESPFA Academy team continued a great start to the season with a 5-2 win over Mickleover to continue their 100% start to the season. Ste Chaney's lads have won five out of five scoring 32 goals in the process. This is after getting to the national finals last season where they finished 2nd.

Events

We had our fireworks display on 6th November and it was a great success. As well as putting on a great night for our fans and the local community, everyone who attended was also able to raise £760 for charity. We will top that up to £800 and it will be split evenly between Halton Haven and Alder Hey. Thank you to everyone for their fantastic generosity.

We will be putting on more great events in the future so please keep an eye on our social media for more details.

Grace Mantova

As I am sure you are all aware, Grace Mantova has made the decision to resign from the Trust Board and from her role in the Tea Bar. I want to place on record my thanks to Grace, she was integral in the off field success we have achieved so far and working in the Tea Bar on a match day is a thankless task where you don't even get to watch the games.

Thank you to Grace from all at Runcorn Linnets.

Matchday incidents

We have been delighted with the increase in attendances this season and very much hope that they continue, however increased attendances do bring their own problems.

We have been made aware of a few incidents involving unruly behaviour by some of our younger fans including verbally abusing opposition players and fans. Whilst there is always an element of "banter" with players and even some light-hearted interaction, it should never be malicious and abuse cannot be tolerated.

Runcorn Linnets have always been known for the respect shown to opposition players and that is something I want to continue. Any abuse or threats of violence from our fans towards opposition players, officials, or fans will not be tolerated. Anyone observed being abusive will be asked to leave and will not be welcome back.

We want everyone to noisily back our players but there is a line that must not be crossed and everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

Thank you all for reading.

Dave Jones

Runcorn Linnets FC - Chairman

The Trust Board formally accepted the resignation of Grace Mantova from the board at their meeting last night (Monday).

The board placed on record its thanks to Grace for her service to the board and club, particularly in her roles as food & beverages manager and events manager.

All at the club wish her well for the future and hope that she enjoyed her time and involvement with Runcorn Linnets.

At this time of year, we wear our poppies with pride, remembering the great sacrifices of those who lost their lives during the two World Wars and also more recent conflicts around the globe.

It is also time to think of current servicemen and women, who are fighting to preserve our freedoms on home shores or to protect lives and maintain peace in foreign lands.

Today, at our final match before Remembrance Weekend, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony ahead of kick off.

We will ask supporters to join a minute's silence in honour of The Fallen.

Josh Christian, Trust Board member and community engagement manager at Runcorn Linnets, said: "It is our pleasure once again to honour our war heroes at APEC Taxis Stadium. As a club we believe it is very Important to remember those that have gone before us and I am proud that the whole club will be coming together on Saturday and then on Remembrance Sunday when we will lay our wreaths at the Cenotaph. "Unfortunately last year because of Covid restrictions we weren't able to do any such commemorations but two years ago, it filled me with immense pride when myself, other club officials and more than 50 junior players (pictured) attended the service at the Cenotaph."

Men's Team

Only one place to start this update and that's with the record-breaking crowd we achieved at the FC United of Manchester, I was expecting a crowd of over 1000 but to see the final figure land at 1078 was a very special moment for me. Unlike the last game against FC United, I believe the majority of the crowd were Linnets fans and that was illustrated in the 2nd half with the very vocal backing you gave the lads as they searched for an equaliser. Ultimately it wasn't to be, but the team were excellent and on another day, we could have gotten something out of the game.

We bounced back in the best possible way with a 7-1 win against Cheadle Town in front of another really good crowd of 343. I know I keep going on about the size of our crowds but fans are so important to us, as our biggest source of revenue is matchday income and 343 on for a Cheshire Senior Cup in October is a very good attendance. I think you could see by the team that he picked, Calum is taking this competition seriously and I know he would love to win it. We have drawn Winsford United away in the next with the tie needing to be played before 8th January. We will make a further announcement when we have a agreed a date.

We now play Trafford on Saturday, and it will be another tough test for Calum's team against a team doing well at the top of the table and I'm sure it'll be a great game.

Linnets Ladies

Unfortunately, the Ladies game against Mersey Valley Ladies fell victim to the weather on Sunday and had to be postponed. They are back in action at the APEC Taxis Stadium on Sunday 7th November, taking on Chester at 2pm. We will also be having a foodbank collection, so if you are planning to attend, please bring along anything you may have spare in your kitchen cupboards.

Development Team

The Development Team's game on Sunday also fell victim to the weather and was postponed. There next game is also at home on Sunday against St Helens Town U21s at 12pm.

The Development Team are looking for a new coach to work with manager Robbie Gibbons, if you are interested, please contact the club.

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Remembrance

Sunday 14th November will be this year's remembrance Sunday and as our game against Trafford will be our final home game before then we will be paying our respects to all those have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their country. The Sea Cadets will be in attendance at the game to sell poppies and walk the teams on to the pitch. There will be a minute's silence, wreaths will be laid and then the Last Post will be played before the game kicks off. There will also be marks of respect at the Development Team and Ladies games on the Sunday.

On remembrance Sunday, the club will be represented at the Cenotaph where three wreaths will be laid to represent the Men's team, the Ladies team and the Juniors.

Events

We will still be hosting our Bonfire Night fireworks display on 6th November. This will be a night of fun for the whole family with food available from the tea bar and The Clubhouse Bar will be open. This is a free event and we want as many of the local community to come along as possible. We will be selling hot dogs, burgers, hot chocolates, fancy coffees and other traditional bonfire night fare. Even though it is a free event, we will have charity collection buckets on the pedestrian gate and car park gate, with all proceeds being divided between Halton Haven and Alder Hey Hospital who both do fantastic work.

Thank you all for reading.

Dave Jones

Runcorn Linnets FC - Chairman