April 28th 2006 – recognised as the birth date of Runcorn Linnets. Fans meet at Quayside Function Rooms in Canal Street and decide to form a new fans-owned successor to Runcorn AFC (playing as Runcorn FC Halton). The original club was in no position to continue after a torrid 2005-06. Much hard work lies ahead to persuade the football authorities that the new club has a valid case to take on the Linnets legacy and a sustainable business plan to match.

 

May 2nd 2006 – an executive committee is established at the club, its first key task being to name the new club. It’s felt the original suggestion of “AFC Runcorn” could cause confusion with the by now dormant Runcorn AFC, so they decide upon Runcorn Linnets. This is derived from the nickname of the predecessor club.

 

June 14th 2006 – discussions with North West Counties League reach an advanced stage and the club announces an initial two-year ground share at Witton Albion FC.

 

June 17th 2006 – with the consent of the league management committee, Runcorn Linnets’ application to join the North West Counties League goes to the league AGM in Buxton and is accepted on a vote of member clubs. Subject to FA approval (subsequently given), the new club will join the National League System at Step 6 in NWCL Division Two.

 

July 25th 2006 - RLFC's first ever game is a friendly at St Helens Town, the hosts triumphing 2-0 at Ruskin Drive.

 

August 5th 2006 – our first appearance as tenants at Witton's Wincham Park as we beat Rhyl 1-0  in our third warm-up game of four.

 

August 12th 2006 - Linnets successfully kick off our inaugural league campaign with a 4-0 rout of Ashton Town at Edge Green Street, Ashton-in-Makerfield.

 

August 18th 2006 - the first competitive home game, also in NWCL 2, is on a Friday evening as we run out 5-0 winners over Castleton Gabriels.

 

April 21st 2007 – promotion to Division One is secured with a game to spare, thanks to a 2-1 win at Holker Old Boys.

 

April 28th 2007 – despite a 1-0 league victory at Chadderton on the final day of the season, we miss out on the NWCL Division Two championship by goal difference and finish in runners-up spot.

 

August 11th 2007 – Linnets draw 2-2 at Atherton Collieries to start life in NWCL Division One.

 

September 22nd 2007 – a 3-0 defeat of visiting Daisy Hill in the 2nd qualifying round marks the club’s FA Vase debut.

 

August 9th 2008 – we launch our third season after NWCL Division One becomes the league’s Premier Division.

 

August 17th 2008 – a two-year wait to play in the FA Cup is over with Rossington Main being edged out 3-2 in an extra preliminary round tie at Wincham.

 

May 5th 2009 - A Tuesday evening excursion to Tameside Stadium in Ashton-under-Lyne for our first cup final appearance. But it ends in disappointment as we succumb 2-0 to big-spending New Mills in the NWCL Challenge Cup.

 

February 5th 2010 – club officials, Halton Borough Council representatives and sponsors perform the traditional turf-cutting ceremony on the new stadium at Halton Sports ground in Nurdishaw. It will bring Linnets home to Runcorn after four seasons at Wincham Park.

 

July 17th 2010 – a moment many had feared they would never see again as the Linnets end a nine-year exile, dating back to the final game at Canal Street in 2001, with a return to Runcorn. Former landlords Witton Albion are visitors for a ground-breaking pre-season friendly and the completed Linnets Stadium is declared officially open. Witton win the game 3-1 in front of a 1,037 crowd, including a good many Linnets legends.

 

August 7th  2010 – another new era kicks off with a 2-2 draw against Colne. This first home game of the 2010-11 NWCL Premier Division season doubles as the inaugural competitive fixture for Linnets on our new ground.

 

May 2nd 2013 – our first winners’ trophy as we return to Tameside Stadium to lift the NWCL Challenge Cup with a 3-0 victory over Formby on our second NWCL Challenge Cup final appearance.

 

February 17th 2018 – our new £1.4m clubhouse is officially opened. The project is facilitated by the creation of a new retail and leisure park, including an Aldi supermarket, next to the ground and saw the demolition of our existing clubhouse. The replacement building is at pitchside and brings to an end the match day ritual of closing Stockham Lane, so players can cross to and from dressing rooms on the opposite side of the road.

 

May 3rd 2018  – the first team secures its second promotion since formation as NWCL Premier Division champions, after three successive runners-up finishes. A memorable 5-0 home victory over Squires Gate seals a place at Step 4 for the first time.

 

May 5th 2018 – the championship trophy is presented after a season-ending derby against visiting Runcorn Town.

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August 18th 2018  – our first game in Northern Premier League Division One West sees 4-2 defeat at Droylsden – providing a prompt indication of the higher playing standards the step up will demand.

 

September 29th 2018 – with our new league status we are rewarded with a place in the FA Trophy, instead of the FA Vase, but we are knocked out 4-2 at Atherton Collieries on entry in the extra preliminary round.

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March 16th 2019 – the new leisure and retail park neighbouring our stadium is opened and named Jack Search Way by Halton Borough Council -  in tribute to the Runcorn centre forward of the 1930s and 40s. Jack, awarded the George Medal for bravery in World War Two, is recognised as Linnets’ greatest player. At the end of his on-field career, he became club chairman. His daughter and son-in-law, Jeannie and David De Rycke, are among family members at the opening of the site where a display board records Jack’s achievements.

 

May 5th 2020 – the club announces a new hybrid stadium pitch, combining plastic fibres with natural grass, is to be installed for the 2020-21 season - as part of a pilot scheme involving the FA and Football Foundation. Linnets teams will use the surface for matches and/or training with the facility being available for community hire.

 

April 30th 2022 – the club hosts Marine in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Play-off final with a promotion to Step 3 at stake. Tickets are the hottest in town and it’s a 1,600 sell-out – and a stadium record crowd - for the match which sees Runcorn take an early lead. But Marine hit back for a 2-1 win, clinching their return to the NPL Premier Division.

 

April 18th 2023 –Fate throws Linnets and Marine back together for a rematch, this time in the Liverpool Senior Cup final at DCBL Stadium, Widnes. Linnets sell our full allocation of 1,500 tickets and it proves another tense affair. With the score sheet blank at 90 minutes, it’s straight to a penalty shootout in which Marine prevail 4-3.

 

April 29th 2023 – Runcorn are in the NPL West play-off final for the second successive year. This time, we travel to Cumbria to face Workington AFC, having (as in 2022), negotiated a tough semi-final test at Leek Town. History again repeats itself - Linnets going ahead only to be denied by an opposition comeback, the hosts triumphing 2-1 to go up to the next level.