—
Runcorn Linnets Football Club have secured promotion to the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League after topping the Hallmark Security Premier League with 100 points, and an amazing goal difference of 86.
A crowd just short of 900 saw the Linnets first team – the club’s name being derived from the nickname of its predecessor outfit – crowned as champions for the first time.
Runcorn Linnets’ previous promotion had been as league runners-up, on goals difference. Their first winners’ trophy came in in 2013 with the winning of the (then unsponsored) North West Counties League Challenge Cup.
The club has supporters all over the world – from the USA to New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates to China. Fans groups from Sweden and Norway have, along with loyal fans closer to home, contributed to ground improvements which have readied the Linnets for the next level.
Mark Buckley is the third chairman in the Linnets’ short history and couldn’t be happier that the club has made it to Step 4 of the National Game System after long knocking at the door.
He said: “After gaining promotion at the first attempt in 2007 to what is now The Hallmark Security Premier Division, we have found it extremely tough to get out of the division.
“As a fans-owned club, we don’t have a financial backer and are purely reliant on income through the turnstiles, our own fundraising and sponsorship from supportive Runcorn firms such as recruitment specialists Millbank Holdings, our long-standing main club sponsor, and back of shirt sponsor Grangeside Automotive Engineers.
“Our ethos has always been to live within our means and that will continue to be the case. Of course, there is a great deal of financial commitment involved with running a club and stadium, beyond putting teams onto the field.
“We have had some promotion near misses in recent seasons and hitherto having just one promotion place available hasn’t helped, not least in terms of keeping the league competitive when there are no play-off places for those teams just outside the title race to aim for.
“However, our past experiences particularly in the last four seasons, when we have come so close, have stood us in good stead this season.
“We were aware that there was likely to be an extra promotion spot with the best performing second-placed teams in 12 of the 14 leagues at Step 5 going up.
“All runners-up at our level will be promoted and at least one third placed team.”
Buckley is rightly proud of the progress that has been made in and off the pitch and pleased to see the club’s fan base rising steadily.
This season’s average home crowd saw Runcorn Linnets break into the country’s top 100 best-supported non-league clubs. That is due to the Linnets’ title challenge but also the attractive brand of football with 122 goals being scored in 44 league games.
The club chairman added: “In his first managerial role, our long-serving former club captain, Michael Ellison and his assistant Matt Cross have worked wonders to rebuild a squad which had been decimated after a 2016 summer of uncertainty which culminated in manager Joey Dunn resigning and the squad (which had finished second in the three previous seasons) breaking up.
“The thing you never know is just how good the other teams will be. At the start of the season, the concensus was that the league would be wide open with three strong-looking outfits in Widnes, City of Liverpool and Charnock Richard joining clubs such as ourselves, Runcorn Town, 1874 Northwich and Bootle in the mix.
“As it has panned out, the closing weeks of the season saw Runcorn Linnets and our nearest neighbours, Runcorn Town and Widnes, emerge in a three-pronged title race, which we won with two games to spare after leading the table since Christmas.”
Buckley is aware that the step up to Northern Premier League football in the EVO-STIK will bring tough new challenges in terms of on-pitch performance and increased requirements with club administration.
The club has a number of sponsorship opportunities for anyone wishing to invest in the hopefully continuing rise of Runcorn Linnets.
For further information, please get in touch with the club through at www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk
Release ID: 343586