Match Preview

DO THEY MEAN US? RUNCORN LINNETS
This Tuesday (14th November 7.45pm) sees The Blues heading up the M6 to Runcorn Linnets, a club who have given us plenty of Play Off heartache in recent years. It’s a double away game week, with two hard games in prospect, so the True Blue Army’s support will be invaluable.

The True Blue Army will assemble at?
Runcorn Linnets play at the Apec Taxis Stadium. It’s around 42 miles from Leek by road, and a relatively easy ground to find:

• Take the M6
• Exit M6 at junction 20a and keep left at the fork, follow signs for M56/N Wales/Chester/Runcorn and merge onto M56
• At junction 11, take the A56 exit to Preston Brook/Daresbury
• At Preston Brook Interchange, take the 1st exit onto Chester Rd/A56
• At Whitehouse Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Chester Rd/A533
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Murdishaw Ave
• Turn right onto Stockham Ln
• Apec Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 6GJ

We will be playing in our customary away colours of all #ORANJE

How much to get in?

• Adults £10
• Concessions £7
• Under 18’s £2

What are they known as/Nickname(s)?
Yellows

Their website?
https://www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk/

How are they doing?
As I write this, Runcorn Linnets lie in 7th place, two points behind Leek, after winning six, losing 4, and drawing 3 of their 12 matches.

Their gaffer?
Merseysider Billy Paynter will need no introduction to many reading this. He started his career with Port Vale in 2000, and made over 150 appearances in his six years with the club as a striker. Paynter also played for a number of clubs including Hull City, Bradford City, Leeds United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United.

He moved into coaching after retiring as a player and coached at the academies at Everton and Port Vale before joining the Linnets, and was appointed as first-team manager back in March 2023.

Their man man?
Ryan Brooke leads The Linnets’ scoring charts with 4 goals this season, after returning to the club in October 2022 from Warrington Rylands. Brooke will have to be watched carefully, as he’s been a regular goalscorer throughout his career, that has included spells at Curzon Ashton, Mossley, and Altrincham, and 29 games in the EFL for Oldham Athletic. Ex Blues winger Will Saxon has also joined Runcorn & will need to be watched.

6 Of The Best – six things you probably didn’t know about Runcorn Linnets

1. The club were founded in 2006
2. The club is run by a trust which is a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014
3. The opening match at the club’s stadium took place on 17 July 2010 and was a friendly against Witton Albion, partly as old rivals, but mainly as an appreciation of their help in establishing a base for Runcorn Linnets in its foundation years
4. The bond between the two clubs continues to be recognised at the start of each season with a joint sponsored walk followed by a pre-season fixture
5. Since being founded, Linnets have not finished below 12th in any league that they have played in
6. Their highest attendance? A sell-out 1600 when they lost 2-1 to the Marine in the playoff final in 2022