Runcorn Linnets are pleased to unveil our pre-season schedule for 2023-24.

This includes an inaugural friendly against Runcorn Town, at Viridor Community Stadium.

There are also warm-up visits to last season's FA Vase semi-finalists Congleton Town, who are fresh from winning the Cheshire Senior Cup and Macron Cup, along with two other top-flight North West Counties League clubs Litherland REMYCA and Lower Breck.

We will, meanwhile, venture into North Wales to face Flint Town United of Cymru North.

There are home games against Crewe Alexandra of EFL League Two and, in a change to the originally-listed fixture, Pitching In NPL Premier Division outfit, Ashton United

Billy Paynter has signed a two-year contract to continue as manager of Runcorn Linnets.

The move comes just over a week after the experienced former Football League striker led Linnets into the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division Play-off Final in only his ninth game in charge.

38-year-old Billy spent most of his first season at Runcorn as first-team coach, but was immediately promoted to the boss's chair at APEC Taxis Stadium after the March dismissal of Dave WIld.

The Liverpudlian regalvanised the squad with results emphasising their character and recovery powers after the turmoil of Wild's departure.

Performances showed that the players were backing theinew manager 100%.

This solidarity underpinned an unbeaten league run, which cemented a fifth-placed finish.

The only blemishes on the way to a second successive appearance in the play-offs were two county cups defeats, both to higher-ranked sides.

Linnets took NPL Premier outfit, Marine to penalties in the Liverpool Senior Cup final.

Fans bought into feelgood factor, which followed the managerial change - 1,500 crossing the River Mersey for the tie at Widnes.

In the Play-off semi-finals, Runcorn convincingly defeated league runners-up Leek Town, away from home, before coming up just short at third-placed Workington in the final.

Linnets took an early lead before eventually succumbing to the Cumbrian hosts 2-1, after extra-time.

The club had refrained from labelling Billy a "caretaker" boss - the Trust Board always envisaging a longer-term arrangement.

Linnets chairman, Peter Cartledge said: "We felt we had the right man for the job already at the club.

"We were conscious of how ambitious Billy was to get into management and knew his abilities from the work he had carried out.

"We viewed naming Billy manager as the natural step and now agreeing with him the two-year deal, as the first contracted manager in the club's history, is confirmation of the confidence we have in Billy and the faith he has in us.

"Preparations for next season start here and we are really excited about the future on and off the pitch.

"Billy has given us an indication of his recruitment plans and what he has in store for pre-season.

"The club and our supporters have much to look forward to."

Paynter, who made 529 appearances with 131 goals for EFL clubs in a 17-year playing career, is a UEFA A coach.

Having represented clubs with the calibre of Brighton & Hove Albion, Leeds United and Sheffield United, he upon retirement from playing turned to coaching - working in the academies at Everton and Port Vale.

He was Professional Development Phase lead coach at Vale Park from November 2020 to May 2022.

Billy admitted to having no hesitation in accepting the new deal.

He wants now to make his own mark on Linnets' recruitment and playing style.

"This summer's going to be a lot of ins and outs," he said.

"I want to try to get my own players in and to play exciting football. I felt we lacked a bit of quality in the final third, so I want to try to strengthen in that area.

"Seeing how we missed out last season - with the disappointment of losing on penalties in the (Liverpool Senior Cup) final and getting beaten in extra time (in the play-off decider at Workington) - I want to go one further next season.

"I want to give the fans something to cheer about, a bit of joy towards the end because the fans for me, since I've arrived, have made me feel really welcome and I want to try to repay their support."

The End-of-season Awards Evening for Runcorn Linnets first team will be held in the MDB Gas Clubhouse at APEC Taxis Stadium on Friday, May 12th.

This is an informal event to recognise, reflect on and celebrate our achievements and progress over the 2022-23 campaign.

The traditional presentations of football club and Supporters Club awards get under way at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £5 each (including food) and on sale through our ticketing partner Kaizen here

Runcon Linnets were beaten in the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Play-off Final for a second successive season.

Lewis Reilly struck nine minutes into extra-time to secure the second promotion place behind champions Macclesfield for Workington by a 2-1 margin.

Lewis Doyle had given Linnets a flying start with a fifth-minute opener but Workington equalised on the half hour from an own goal.

Congratulations to the Reds on their victory.

We couldn"t be prouder of the Linnets' efforts over the last eight months and thank our fantastic fans for their support both today and over the season.

It is 17 years to the day since supporters of the former Runcorn AFC held the meeting at the then Quayside Bar and Function Rooms in Canal Street, which saw the birth of Runcorn Linnets FC.

Those diehard fans, some of them sadly no longer with us, ensured that the Linnets name proudly lived on - the original club having been unable to continue playing after a traumatic 2005-06 season, which had culminated in relegation from the Northern Premier League Premier Division as Runcorn FC Halton.

With their efforts and determination to steer the new club as officials and supporters through a tricky first four years in further exile - playing home matches at Witton Albion FC - plus backing from Halton Borough Council and the Football Foundation, we were able to finally return to Runcorn in 2010 with a move to our own ground in Murdishaw. This is now known as APEC Taxis Stadium.

It had been nine long and initially tortuous years since Runcorn AFC had played its last match at Canal Street and begun what would become a nomadic existence at Widnes, Northwich, Southport and ultimately Prescot, where there were some heavy and punishing defeats.

Fielding a team to complete the season was a challenge in itself but achieving it sent a message of resolve, which would be crucial to the continuation of the Linnets story.

The team finished 05-06 in bottom place with six wins from 42 games and those who witnessed the club's final match at Ashton United will never forget the feelings of hurt, desperation and anger.

Our spiritual home had been taken from us. Now it was our club.

The prospect of a successor outfit offered hope yet there were many significant hurdles to overcome, not least convincing the Football Association and North West Counties League that we were worthy of the chance.

But less than four months later, we kicked off the new era at Ashton Town as members of NWCL Division Two (now Division One).

We missed out on the title to Winsford United by goal difference but secured our place in what would after one more season as NWCL Division One become the Premier Division. After a few near misses, we eventually won the title in 2017-18.

Fast forward to 2023.

With two promotions already behind us, the first team - with the backing of the Ladies, iunior and youth sections - has another opportunity to make it a third.

We head to Workington tomorrow for the Pitching In NPL West Play-off Final, having narrowly missed out to Marine in last season's corresponding fixture.

Victory would see the Linnets in NPL Premier Division once again.

As we raise a toast today to the founders of our fans-owned club, what a late birthday present that would be!

Come on You Yellows!!