Team lifts East Division crown after unbeaten campaign
Many congratulations to our ESPFA team, who are East Division champions after an outstanding campaign.
Competing as ESPFA Cheshire (Runcorn Linnets) and managed by Steve Chaney, they won eight out of ten league games, drawing the other two to complete the league season unbeaten.
Scoring 48 goals to average just short of five per game while conceding 15, Linnets finished five points clear with a superior goal difference to their rivals.
Runners-up spot went to the other Cheshire outfit in the six-team division, Sandbach United.
The full line-up of teams in finishing order was Derbyshire (Belper Town Black), Greater Manchester (Mossley), West Midlands (Rushall Olympic Amber) and Noffinghamshire (Belper Town Red).
Runcorn Linnets have qualified for the ESPFA National Championship semi-finals on Thursday, April 16th.
They will entertain West Division runners-up West Yorkshire (Ossett United), ko noon. The teams enjoyed a dress rehearsal in the North Group of the ESPFA Cup yesterday.
One of our club photographers Peter Gallagher-Headley was in attendance to capture the action. His images, including the presentation of title winners' medals are now available to view
https://peterghphoto.pixieset.com/espfadivisionalchampionsruncornlinnets/
The tie at APEC Taxis Stadium finished all square at 1-1 with Linnets' goal being scored by Dan McCaffrey who has also played for our junior and Under 21s sides.
The Linnets' starting XI was: Watkinson-Turner, Dean, Yates, McCaffrey, Bennett, Holden, Conde, Joe, Philpott, Croxton, Trubshaw.
Both National Championship semi-finals will both be played on April 18th. The other will pitch the West Division champions Derbyshire (Belper Town Yellow) against Sandbach United, raising the prospect of an all-Cheshire final.
ESPFA (Education and Semi-Professional Football Academy) was founded in 2014.
It is a full-time programme offering 16-18 year old students opportunities to develop their football careers while gaining recognised qualifications in sports science, leadership and coaching.
The most notable graduate of the scheme at Linnets is Adam Moseley, who went on to make almost 100 first-team appearances for the club and scored a hat-trick in last season's Cheshire Senior Cup final against Stalybridge Celtic as Runcorn lifted the trophy with a 3-0 victory.
The 20-year-old striker has this season transferred to Wigan Athletic, signing professional forms.
He has been in prolific scoring form for the Under 21s Academy team at the EFL One club.
You can find out more about the ESPFA and specifically Runcorn Linnets' involvement here:
www.espfa.co.uk/runcornlinnets
Picture by Peter Gallagher-Headley