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Runcorn Linnets will approach 2025-26 with renewed hope and expectation after

claiming historic silverware at the end of a difficult 2024-25 campaign.

We defeated Pitching In Northern Premier League West rivals Stalybridge Celtic at

Chester's Deva Stadium in the final match of the season to lift the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time.

The landmark success came 100 years after our predecessors Runcorn AFC celebrated their maiden success in a competition, which they would win 12 times.

Hometown striker Adam Moseley's hat-trick, in front of a 900-strong Linnets following captured the mood, providing fresh impetus for what will be manager Brad Cooke's first full season in charge.

Appointed in February 2025, after the club parted company with Antony Kay, now

40- year-old Brad previously enjoyed much success as a player, captain and manager of Atherton Collieries.

At the end of his playing career, Brad skippered Northwich Victoria to the semi-finals of the FA Vase.

He is joined at APEC Taxis Stadium by assistant Rob Sadler, who was also second in command for Brad’s first managerial post at West Didsbury & Chorlton and one of his two assistants over four years at Colls.

Brad's predecessor Antony Kay had been appointed as boss ahead of the 2024-25 season, the club’s most experienced player having hung up his boots after a distinguished on-field career to take up his first managerial post.

He had played 800 professional games with his native Barnsley, Tranmere Rovers,

Huddersfield Town, MK Dons, Bury and Port Vale and was a three-time EFL League One promotion winner.

However, seven of 14 home league games were lost under Antony’s command and with crowds falling, the Trust Board felt it was time for change.

Senior players Ryan Brooke (who has since set a new all-time scoring record at Linnets), Karl Clair and captain James Short oversaw a brief interim period before Brad Cooke became the 10th manager since our formation in 2006.

Linnets soon felt the benefit of Brad's infectious enthusiasm. Ten unbeaten games prolonged outside hopes of play-off involvement for a fourth successive season.

However, an injury-time goal conceded in the 2-2 draw at Stafford Rangers at the end of March effectively put paid to our top-five challenge.

With momentum affected, Linnets limped to an 11th-placed finish, 12 months after

coming second to champions Leek Town under veteran former Football League

campaigner Billy Paynter.

Runcorn were still feeling the effects of a calamitous end to 2023-24. Having finished

runners-up, Linnets lost their home promotion semi-final to City of Liverpool.

Following on from successive Play-off Final losses to Marine and Workington, this latest setback, in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,600, prompted Billy Paynter’s shock resignation

three days later.

The well-respected former EFL forward had been on the APEC Taxis Stadium scene for almost two years.

Billy, having served clubs including Sheffield United, Swindon Town and Leeds United in

a 529-game professional playing career, had taken on the Runcorn manager’s role in the last eight weeks of 2022-23.

He stepped up from the first-team coach’s position upon the dismissal of former

Mossley manager and ex-Matlock Town assistant Dave Wild, who had only taken charge of Linnets in summer 2022.

Things could easily have spiralled out of control with major disruption at such a crucial time but Billy called on all his experience to swiftly put things back on track.

After falling to Vanarama National League club Altrincham in the Cheshire Cup semi-[1]finals, we also found ourselves up against higher-grade opposition in the Liverpool FA

Senior Cup final.

Backed by a magnificent following of 1,500 fans, Runcorn were beaten on penalties by

NPL Premier outfit, Marine at Widnes (after a 0-0 scoreline over 90 minutes).

The Crosby

club had already edged out Linnets in the 2021-22 promotion race by winning the Play[1]off Final 2-1 at the APEC.

The corresponding 2022-23 final followed a similar pattern, although we were this time the away side.

Runcorn took an early lead at Workington, just as we had against the Mariners 12 months earlier, before again succumbing by the odd goal in three.

But this time it took extra-time to separate the teams in only the eighth match as

manager for Billy Paynter, who had arrived at Linnets in summer of 2022.

At the end of the 2021-22 season, the club had said fond farewells to manager Calum

McIntyre as he left to take command at Chester FC.

Calum's final match in charge of Runcorn had been the Play-off Final against Marine, which took the aggregate

attendance in 12 years at Linnets' stadium past 100,000.

The all-ticket tie sold out. It was a delight to have been able to complete the season

after two Covid-curtailed campaigns.

In his 22 months at the club, Calum had forged a strong bond with Linnets and our fans.

A key element in his management/coaching strategy and playing style had been our

hybrid pitch.

It was installed in summer of 2020, Linnets having been chosen to take

part in the second phase of Sport England's hybrid carpet pilot programme.

The project,

also in conjunction with the Football Foundation, Premier League, The Football

Association and Cheshire FA, involved the laying of a surface comprising 95% natural

grass, growing through and intertwined with the grass fibre carpet.

Another significant happening in the 2020 close season had involved the departures of

Linnets' long-serving management team of boss Michael Ellison and assistant Matt

Cross plus the retirement through injury of influential player and club captain, Kyle Hamid.

Only Matt Atherton (313) has made more appearances than Kyle's 261 with

Michael Ellison, Mark Houghton, Rob Whyte and most recently Peter Wylie are the only other double century makers with Peter having achieved the feat at the of last season.

(Our appearance figures include games played in the seasons abandoned because of

the coronavirus pandemic, although playing records for these two campaigns have been officially expunged).

‘Ello’ and ‘Crossy’ had been in charge since summer 2016 after both playing for the club and they were assured of legendary status at Linnets on account of their on-field service

and managerial achievement in bringing the club our first championship success.

They also oversaw Runcorn's first two seasons in the NPL after promotion as North West Counties League Premier Division title winners of 2017-18 - Linnets putting the

disappointment of multiple near misses firmly behind us.

After three runners-up

finishes in the previous four seasons, promotion was finally clinched on April 28th 2018 on the 12th anniversary of the club's foundation.

The title was secured on May 3rd 2018

with a 5-0 home victory over Blackpool- based Squires Gate.

This long-awaited league crown was captured with two matches to spare and 100 points – a club record 122 league goals being scored over the 44 games with 36 conceded.

The club enjoyed a very creditable introduction to Northern Premier League life in 2018-

19 as members of its West Division.

This was the only NPL programme, which Linnets were able to complete (because of coronavirus) until 2021-22, when the team eventually missed out on a play-off spot on goals difference.

For the two aborted seasons, Linnets had competed in the North West Division after

geographical reorganisation.

But on the creation three seasons ago of a third NPL division at Step 4, we reverted to membership of the West Division.

Linnets have come a long way since being founded in 2006 by supporters of former

national non-league champions, Runcorn AFC after a traumatic end for the old club.

The initial aims had been to bring the successor Linnets back to Runcorn and establish

the club as one of which the community could be proud.

Both these ambitions were achieved with the club still in its infancy.

The stadium, in the Murdishaw area of Runcorn, opened in 2010 with the project having been supported by Halton Borough Council, the FA and the Football Foundation as well

as the club and its fans.

Winter 2017 saw the completion of a replacement £1.4 million clubhouse as part of wider redevelopment of surrounding land with retail and leisure

facilities.

At the same time, pitches outside the stadium were fenced in for use by the Linnets'

numerous junior teams with the club also signing a new long-term lease with Halton

Council for the extended site.

Runcorn Linnets Football Club was born after Runcorn AFC had intimated it would not

be in a position to field a team beyond the end of 2005-06 season.

Upon leaving town in

2001, the now defunct club had suffered a troubled and nomadic existence.

Fans met at their spiritual home in Canal Street – at the then Quayside Bar and Function Rooms,

next to the Linnets Park housing estate on which Runcorn AFC's ground had once stood.

An existing Supporters Trust was remodelled to run Runcorn Linnets, whose identity

was derived from Runcorn AFC's nickname.

The new club spent our first four years

playing home games as tenants of Witton Albion FC at Wincham Park, Northwich -

gaining promotion at the first attempt to the top division of the North West Counties

League under the management of Steve Carragher, who had been the predecessor

club's last team boss.

Victory against Formby in the NWCL Challenge Cup final in 2012-13 brought a first winners' trophy.

Former Runcorn AFC player, Joey Dunn was the then manager.

Paul McNally is another "old boy" of the original club to have managed the new with

Steve Wilkes at the time of his appointment being the only manager not to have had any

previous Linnets connections.

Calum McIntyre, Dave Wild, Billy Paynter and now Brad

Cooke have since joined that particular "club". ‘Wilkesey’ in 2009 led Linnets to our first ever final, only to be beaten to the NWCL Challenge Cup by New Mills at Tameside

Stadium, also scene of the club's triumph in the same competition four years later.

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