Runcorn Linnets are delighted to announce that, in conjunction with the Football Foundation, Premier League, Sport England, The Football Association and Cheshire County FA, we have been chosen to take part in the second phase of Sport England's Carpet Hybrid Football Pitch Pilot Scheme.

This is the culmination of two years of hard work, which has included a site selection process, feasibility studies, technical surveys, a rigorous application process, countless meetings, 'phone calls & e-mails - with plenty of hurdles to overcome!

A further statement will be released in due course with our various partners, including some of our treasured club sponsors and supporters who have all played a critical role in making this scheme possible, but the club wanted to make this initial announcement so that everyone is kept fully in the loop.

We are sure you will have lots of questions, so thought it best to do a Q&A-style bulletin...

What is a carpet hybrid pitch?

The carpet hybrid is a sports pitch of more than 95% natural grass, grown through and intertwined with a carpet of grass fibre shoots. It has a base of sand, rootzone and gravel in various depths and layers. Hybrid pitches are now commonplace in elite-level sport such as the Premier League, with the difference being that Premier League pitches are a "stitched" hybrid with the fibres being injected into the existing surface.

Carpet hybrids are a newer concept, which offer different degrees of durability. The carpet itself is something of a globe trotter, starting its manufacturing process in South Korea, then making a stop off in Australia, followed by a stay in Belgium before it eventually reaches its UK distributor!

Will the pitch be artificial, like a 3G pitch?

No. The pitch is in essence a grass pitch. It will look like a grass pitch, is maintained like a grass pitch and most importantly will "play" like a grass pitch. The fibres are there to provide extra durability compared to the natural grass, meaning that our new pitch will be much more durable compared to the old and, therefore, able to take a high amount of usage while remaining in top-class condition. The club will be provided with all the specialist equipment required to maintain and irrigate the hybrid pitch, along with new equipment to maintain our grass pitches that surround the Millbank Linnets Stadium to a far superior quality than has ever been possible before.

Where will this pitch be installed?

The new pitch will be installed at the Millbank Linnets Stadium and replaces the pitch, which has served us since we moved in 10 years ago.

Do any other teams have a similar pitch?

Yes they do! The name of our carpet is Hero, currently considered to be the world-leading hybrid carpet. Among others, there is a small team in Spain called Real Madrid, who have exactly the same pitch as ours installed in their B team stadium! Also several Premier League clubs are now having carpet hybrid pitches installed for their first-team training facilities and Academy team matches. Similar carpet hybrids were used at the FIFA World Cup in Russia and for the last few years, Brentford FC have used a carpet hybrid very similar to our Hero for their Football League matches at Griffin Park.

Who will be able to use this pitch as a home ground?

Undoubtedly, the greatest feature of this pitch is its high degree of durability when compared to traditional grass pitches. So while providing a world-class surface for our 1st team and NPLFA Academy team to play on, we can finally offer the same to our fantastic Ladies team, which has often suffered over the years from having to find alternative venues when the old pitch needed rest, recuperation and some TLC.

We are pleased to announce that from next season our new Runcorn Linnets Under-21s team will also be calling the Millbank Linnets Stadium their home. We will have a top-class playing surface for emerging Linnets trying to make the step up into Ello's Senior Team.

While the 1st, Academy, Ladies and Under-21s will play all home games on the new pitch, its usage most certainly doesn't stop there!

The pitch will be available for all our affiliated teams, meaning that our junior section can make use of the facility for their training sessions along with hosting prestige fixtures on the pitch.

This will be particularly well received by parents, who will be able to take shelter in the nice, warm clubhouse on cold winter nights!

This is part of a collaborative effort by all sections of the club to create a pathway from our youngest age group (Akidemy) right through to our men's and ladies' 1st teams.

Will the facility be available for community use?

Most definitely! Our position as a community club was a key factor in the club being selected to have this wonderful facility. We have been working to develop relationships with various local community groups and we would welcome interest from other local organisations for whom the use of the pitch would be beneficial.

The pitch will also be available for short-term or indeed long-term use by local amateur teams for training sessions, 5/7-a-side competitions and full pitch hire.

Further details will be released when available so please keep your eyes peeled for updates!

When will the pitch be ready?

The pitch will be ready for use in time for the start of next season, assuming our NPL North West Division campaign starts in August as it would normally.

What does this mean for the club moving forward?

We are truly very lucky to have been chosen to have such a world-class pitch installed at our Millbank Linnets Stadium. The desire to have a top-class, durable playing surface benefiting all of our teams and also the community has been a top priority of the Trust Board of Runcorn Linnets for several years.

It has taken an awful lot of hard work to reach this point, but the hard work doesn't stop here. Our stadium is going to be open and in use most days of the week, most weeks of the year - meaning that the work required to keep everything running and operating smoothly has just increased enormously.

If you feel you are able to help in any way as we take the next step into the club's future, please let us know.

All we need is your time and enthusiasm, as little or as much of it as you're able to give!

Our biggest concern currently is everyone's safety. Please keep following the advice on staying safe during the Coronavirus outbreak. Look after each other and yourselves.

When we all get through this, we will have a wonderful new pitch - perfect for playing and watching quality football!

It is with a deep sense of sadness yet everlasting gratitude for his considerable efforts and achievements over seven years in a Runcorn Linnets shirt that we announce today our club captain Kyle Hamid has retired from playing.

"Mucker" hangs up his boots with a very prominent place in Linnets' history forever assured, not least for his part in leading the club to its first title success in 2017-18 season.

Seeing him lift the North West Counties League Premier Division championship was the pinnacle of a 261-game Runcorn Linnets career for one of our true, modern-day legends.

The player has been unfortunate to suffer two serious injuries over the last couple of seasons and it is a testimony to him that he was able to return this season after missing the last half of 2018-19 following a knee operation.

Typically, he was the first to sign up in fact for the 2019-20 season, which ended even more abruptly for "Mucker" than it did for his team-mates just a few weeks later.

Facing more major rehabilitation as a result of the injury sustained in last month's home game against Clitheroe, he  now feels it is time to call it today.

Linnets manager, Michael Ellison said: "It's difficult to put into words the contribution Mucker has made to the club over the last seven years.

"His attributes and qualities on the pitch were clear to see for those who played against, alongside or had the privilege of watching him.

"For me, it's the other qualities he possesses that set him apart - a winner, a leader and a captain in every sense of the word both on and off the pitch.

"But above all, his loyalty - something which is few and far between in football today and something which should be recognised.

"Hes been a pleasure to play alongside and an even greater pleasure to manage.

"Thanks, Muck and good luck."

"Mucker" will always be remembered by Yellow & Greens fans as an all-action goalscoring player - 72 goals scored, including eight penalties - and a captain, who led by example.

"Mucker" had adapted his style to suit our and his own needs in the club's two seasons of Northern Premier League football but greater defensive duties didn't take away any of his commitment or competitiveness.

It will never be forgotten that "Mucker" had been among the few players to stay with Linnets amid the turmoil, which followed Joey Dunn's departure as manager in the 2016-17 close season.

Incoming boss Michael Ellison, newly retired from playing  rebuilt the squad around "Mucker".

Skilful, astute and hardworking with an eye for goals, both from set-pieces and open play, "Mucker" was the natural choice when Ello came to select his successor as Linnets skipper.

After missing the first three games of the 2016-17 season, "Mucker" had a galvanising effect on a new-look side on his return and scored a hat-trick at Canmell Laird 1907.

This three-goal haul included the 1,000th goal scored by Runcorn Linnets.

"Mucker" joined us in December 2012 after 18 months at Warrington Town.

He had previously starred in the League of Wales, having also played in the NPL for Marine and Skelmersdale United.

Previous clubs also included Runcorn Town, who he had rejoined in 2010.

"Mucker" is one of just five players to have chalked up a double century of Runcorn Linnets appearances.

Only Matt Atherton (with 313 games) has played in more Linnets matches than our title-winning Captain Fantastic.

In giving thanks and appreciation for his long and faithful service to the club, we wish "Mucker" every happiness and success in the future.

The club will now decide on a suitable way to honour and recognise his immense contribution to Runcorn Linnets and will make a further announcement in due course.

Runcorn Linnets should be looking forward to the Easter holiday as one of our busiest footballing weekends of the season.   But with a premature halt having been called in these unprecedented post-war times on a "null and void" campaign, we must instead patiently begin planning to start all over again in 2020-21 - without knowing with any certainty when play will resume.

In the meantime, in wishing everyone a Happy Easter, we say traditional end-of-season "thank yous" a little earlier than expected.

Special thanks go to:

• Manager Michael Ellison, his management and backroom teams for their considerable efforts over a season, which sadly we were unable to finish
• Our players, who again took us to the fringes of the promotion play-off spots but will never know what their finishing position would have been
• Sponsors and advertisers, whose generosity plays such a big part in our continued progress as a club and helps to sustain us through testing times
• Our Trust members and fans for continuing to support the club and the team in good numbers both home and away, contributing so much financially and emotionally
• The Supporters Club and Runcorn  Linnets Supporters Group for their backing and invaluable fundraising on behalf of the club
• Those who play our 200 Club draw and support matchday raffles and attend our fundraising events
• Our committed Trust Board and hard-working volunteers, who so willingly give their time and energies both on a matchday and during the week to ensure that the club runs as smoothly as possible - making many sacrifices along the way

This is an opportune moment to thank Brian, Barbara, Joanne and their team who have decided to call it a day in the Linnets'  canteen.

They have spent more than a decade attending to the culinary needs of supporters, sponsors and players at both first and Ladies team games but now take a  well-deserved rest, after bringing many thousands of pounds into the club's coffers.

As we contemplate an extended spell without football, we will be hosting some more "virtual matches" to help with those running costs which we still face.

The next is on Easter Saturday, April 11th, when we will open the imaginary turnstile for our scheduled (but now make believe) fixture against Dunston - giving fans chance to donate admission money and other matchday dues in aid of the Linnets.

We hope as many fans as possible will feel able to support this initiative from the comfort of their armchairs to help us through this difficult period.

Remember to stay at home - and please stay safe.

The Football Association has announced that the 2019-20 BetVictor Northern Premier League season is over - along with those of all other leagues at steps three to six of the National League System.

The FA said in a statement this afternoon that they and the leagues concerned have "reached a consensus that their 2019-20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged."

The statement added: "This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS steps three to six, and no promotion to NLS step two."

The NPL North West Division, including Runcorn Linnets, is a step 4 competition along with the NPL South East.

Both feed into the NPL Premier Division at step 3.

This in turn promotes teams to the regionalised second tier of the National League (step 2).

The news means that a major reorganisation in non-league football, including the NPL taking on a third step 4 division for the start of next season, will be shelved until the end of 2020-21 and not now take effect until August 2021.

The NPL season had already been "suspended indefinitely" from March 16th due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tiers three to seven of the women's game have reached a similar decision in tandem with the FA.

The season will end immediately with results being expunged and promotion and relegation in 2019-20 being scrapped.

Unfortunately, this directly affects Runcorn Linnets Ladies, who are comfortably leading the seventh-tier Cheshire Women's League Prenier Division.

It's a bitter blow for manager John Pickering, coaching staff and players, who have put so much time and effort into what had been a highly successful season but will not now have chance to go up.

An organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Halton has been presented with a set of football kit by Runcorn Linnets.

A Better Tomorrow is a new not-for-profit project formed to work with the increasing number of migrants housed in the borough.

Its aim is to help not only disenfranchised families but also longer-term residents, who need assistance to integrate fully into the local community.

Paul Kenna, a regular supporter at Linnets games, had approached the club with a view to obtaining some old kit for charity.

Paul belongs to St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP), a lay organisation attached to the Catholic Church which supports the poor.

He said: "When the club kindly donated the kit to SVP, we originally intended to send it on to  our contacts in India, however, the cost was too high.

"Eventually I spoke to PC Ian Hampson of Cheshire Police, and he introduced me to Ashraf (Hamido), the chairman of A Better Tomorrow who were very happy to receive the kit."

Linnets handed over the matchworn old blue and white change kit at a recent home game and the club intends to extend its support for the project.

Club chairman, Mike Bignall said: "It was great to be able to assist Paul, one of our loyal fans, with his charitable work and through his efforts help A Better Tomorrow with this very valuable and worthwhile project. We hope to be able to continue our involvement with the group in the future."

A Better Tomorrow works with partners including Cheshire police, health providers, the council and local housing providers to address some of the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers, who have settled in the area.

Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane recently awarded a £5,000 grant from his Safer Communities Fund to support the group to deliver culture awareness sessions and integrate asylum seekers into the community.

PCC Keane said at the time: "The challenges faced by the multi-ethnic community are in addition to the complex challenges faced in Halton in relation to deprivation, health inequality, employment and education.

"Residents who have recently settled in the area need our support. Without it they can easily fall into hardship not just socially but financially too, with a risk of becoming involved with loan sharks or criminal activity. They may also suffer from isolation or exclusion which can lead to mental health issues.

"I hope this project makes a real difference to the lives of migrants in Halton and helps them build a positive future in their new home."

Ashraf Hamido, chair of A Better Tomorrow said on accepting the grant: "Migrants often struggle to access services including employment, education and health.

"Day-to-day tasks such as food shopping or using public transport can also often feel almost insurmountable in respect of language barriers and facing this on a daily basis has a significant effect on mental and physical health.

"This project brings together a number of partners to ensure migrants are given the right support from the right agencies as the come to settle in the area. The funding provided by PCC David Keane will enable us to ensure integration into the community is as smooth as possible."

The PCC grant was awarded by the commissioner in partnership with Halton Clinic Commissioning Group (CCG) through their Well Halton project.

Chris Carlin, a commissioner at Halton CCG and project manager of Well Halton, said: "Well Halton is excited to be able to partner with the police and crime commissioner - together we can tackle the wider determinates of health.

"We are particularly proud to be able to support A Better Tomorrow. Refugees face many challenges such as language, culture and local systems. A Better Tomorrow is a fantastic example of the role that peer support can play. This service will be a key partner to many agencies and will help newcomers to navigate the system and stay well."

Pictured: Linnets chairman Mike Bignall, left, and supporter Paul Kenna, right, with members of A Better Tomorrow.