Runcorn Linnets Academy

Following their success in the ESPFA Northern Division our Academy team took on Chesham United in the ESPFA National Championships. Chesham United were the Southern Division champions having won every one of their league games. The Linnets put in a great performance and won the game 2-1. There are still a number of other possible permutations but if the Linnets win their next game against Mickleover they will be crowned ESPFA National Champions.

I want to wish Ste Chaney and the boys all the best for their final game but whatever happens they have done the club proud.

Runcorn Linnets Under 18s

I was in Kirkby last week to watch our Under 18s take on Bootle Under 18s in a game they needed to win to win the league. Unfortunately, the match had to be abandoned due to a bad injury to a Linnets player. The match will be replayed on Saturday 29th May at the same venue, I would like to wish Gibbo, Toddy and all the lads' good luck, I'm sure they will do us proud.

Runcorn Linnets Ladies

We have appointed Dave Todd as the permanent Runcorn Linnets Ladies manager. Toddy has been coaching with the Juniors since 2017 and I am really happy that we have been able to promote from within. I am delighted Toddy accepted the position after impressing as Interim Manager and I'm looking forward to watching how the Ladies perform next season. He will be putting together his management team over the coming days and we will make further announcements once those appointments are confirmed.

Pre-Season Fixtures

We have confirmed our final pre-season friendly on 7th August, as Calum wanted to wait until we knew who would be in our league because he wanted to face a team at the same level as us but obviously not a team in the same division.

We will be playing away at Shepshed Dynamo of the NPL Central Division, they were promoted from the United Counties League as part of the league restructure. It will be a good final test for Calum's team ahead of the new season and it'll be good to play a team we haven't played before.

In case you missed it in last week's update, our first home pre-season friendly against Matt Atherton's Euxton Villa on 10th July, will be free entry for all and it would be great to see as many of you as possible at our first home game since December.

Club Development Plan

I have completed the Club Development Plan and it has been formally approved by the board. We will be publishing the plan soon, so we can share our vision and plans for your football club.

This is an exciting time for the club and I hope the Development Plan will show you all that we have real ambition to take the club forward.

Season Tickets

We will be announcing our 2021/22 season tickets arrangements in the coming week. Please remember that if you purchased a season ticket for the curtailed 2020/21 season, your season ticket will be automatically carried over for the 2021/22 season.

It feels like we are about to go on a journey with this football club and we would really like as many of you as possible to come along for the ride.

Thank you for reading, take care and I'll see you all soon.

Dave Jones

Chairman – Runcorn Linnets FC

We are delighted to announce that Dave Todd has been appointed as the Runcorn Linnets Ladies Manager on a permanent basis. Toddy took over on an interim basis after the departure of long serving manager, John Pickering and has impressed Linnets Chairman, Dave Jones enough to be offered the job permanently.

Toddy has been with the Linnets since 2017 when he joined as a Juniors team manager for a season. The season after he linked up with Robbie Gibbons who was Under 14s manager. Gibbo and Toddy have spent three years working together as the team progressed to Under 18s and are in with a chance of winning the league this season. He is currently working towards his UEFA B license and is hopeful to have it completed this year. He also has a degree in Sports Coaching and Personal Development and has worked across Halton and Merseyside as a coach/manager since 2009.

Of the appointment, Runcorn Linnets Chairman, Dave Jones said, "Toddy originally started working with the Ladies team to help previous manager John Pickering whilst he was recuperating after an operation and then stepped up as Interim Manager after John stepped down. I've been really impressed with what I've seen from Toddy in his training sessions and the feedback I had received was really positive, so I was keen to offer him the role permanently and I'm delighted he accepted."

"We are trying to cultivate a one club mentality and it is really pleasing to be able to promote a coach from the Juniors to one of our first teams. Along with Eden Gumbs signing for the Men's first team it shows that there is the opportunity to progress from the Juniors section to the Seniors."

New Runcorn Linnets Ladies Manager Dave Todd is keen to get going and said, "I am from Runcorn and have been involved with the Linnets for four years, so it means a great deal to me to have been asked to continue the journey for the Runcorn Linnets Ladies."

Toddy will be putting together his management team in the coming days and we will make a further announcement when those appointments are confirmed.

Runcorn Linnets are looking for a new goalkeeper coach for our Men's First Team team for the 2021/22 season. If you are an experienced goalkeeper coach and are interested in the role please use the below link.

Apply to be First Team Goalkeeper Coach

New League

As I am sure you've all seen our new league structure was released on Tuesday and we will be playing in the Northern Premier League West Division. There were a few surprises but overall, I think we have done well out of the restructure.

We have regained trips to the likes of Kidsgrove, Leek Town and Newcastle Town and retained the more local Manchester aways, as well as Kendal and Workington. We also welcome local clubs Bootle, 1874 Northwich and Warrington Rylands.

The new league set up is very similar to when we first gained promotion into the NPL and I'm sure it'll prove to be a competitive league.

Pre-Season

On Tuesday we also announced our pre-season schedule and I think Calum has put together a good mixture of fixtures.

As it has been so long since we have all been able to watch a game at the Millbank, the Board have made the decision to make the first home friendly against Euxton on 10th July free entry, as a welcome back to all our fans. We hope as many of you as possible can be there to see the improvements that have made and to see the quality team Calum is putting together.

See Pre-Season Schedule update

Summer Survival Fund

Our application for a Summer Survival Fund Grant was successful and we will be receiving the full grant available of £10,000. This grant, along with the others we have received will help ensure we are ready to go once we are allowed to play in front of fans again.

These grants have been essential as we have been able to generate next to no income since our last home game in December.

Player Development

This has been a really exciting week for player development at the Linnets, our Under 21s team have been promoted, our ESPFA Academy team have won their league and progress to the National Championship and Eden Gumbs has been announced as committing to the Men's 1st team for the 2021/22 season.

To improve the pathway from the Linnets Juniors to the 1st team, we will be restructuring from next season with both the Under 18s and Under 21s moving from the Juniors to the Seniors set up and being rebranded as the Youth Team (Under 18s) and the Development Team (Under 21s). We hope that this will make the step up to the Men's 1st team easier and ensure that there are more Eden Gumbs to come.

As of next season the Juniors will be adding a Girls Under 18s team to bridge the gap from the Girls teams to the Ladies 1st team.

It is a really exciting time at the Linnets and I really cannot wait for next season to begin.

As always, stay safe and I'll see you soon.

Dave Jones

Chairman - Runcorn Linnets FC

Runcorn Linnets are celebrating a landmark moment with the promotion of Eden Gumbs to the senior squad at his hometowm club.

Striker Eden is the first player to follow the pathway from the newly-established Under 21s side, who have made such good progress in the North West Development League and have gone up to the Premier Division on the back of their exploits in a Covid-affected 2020-21 season.

As well as representing our U21s with distinction, Eden cut his teeth in senior football with North West Counties League side, Barnton last season.

Club manager Calum McIntyre is excited at the youngster's prospects and the opportunities being created for player progression at the club.

Calum said: "Being able to promote Eden to the senior squad is absolutely fantastic and a testament to his talent, but equally a reflection on the outstanding work of Ste Chaney, supported by Jeff Jago, and his coaches in their work with the Under 21s.

"When I joined the club last summer, the Under 21s project was in its infancy and Ste and Jeff have worked tirelessly to consistently improve what it can offer.

"They have been supported by a number of our committed volunteers and supporters and their commitment and investment of significant time has now delivered a player for the first-team squad.

"Eden is a really talented lad and we look forward to developing him further.

"To be able to have a local boy with links to the Under 21s and junior section within the first-team squad is exactly what we want.

"Nick Woods and the enormous team of volunteer coaches associated with Runcorn Linnets JFC do some superb work and we look forward to seeing Eden represent them so well amongst the first-team squad.

"Eden has shown that he can cut it within senior football with so many impressive showings with Barnton FC last season and we look forward to him recreating that form and continuing to develop here at the Linnets."

While impressing in league matches, Runcorn Linnets U21s reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup, losing at Chorley on Sunday, after an excellent win at Tranmere Rovers in the last 16.