Bootle bound for Brad's 50th game in charge

Bootle v RUNCORN LINNETS

Friday, December 26th 2025 (ko 3pm)

Pitching In Northern Premier League West

Berry Street Garage Stadium, VestyRoad, Bootle L30 1NY

After tasting a first double of the Pitching In Northern Premier League West season with a 2-0 APEC Taxis Stadium victory over Atherton Collieries last time out, our Boxing Day fayre is being served at Bootle - one of the teams we have yet to play in 2025-26.

This second successive Friday fixture will be manager Brad Cooke's 50th match in charge of Runcorn Linnets. The previous 49 have brought us 28 wins, 10 draws and 11 defeats in all competitions.

Past meetings

Ryan Brooke in the ticket of the action last Boxing Day as fog descends on Berry Street Garage Stadium. Picture by Kelly Jones.

Bootle has been a regular destination over the years and was the setting for a festive encounter in our first season.

The teams shared the points in a 1-1 draw at what was then New Bucks Park on December 26th 2006.

We have played at Bootle five times as an NPL side and are unbeaten since the first such visit in September 2021 when we went down 2-1, despite a goal from Ryan Brooke.

Ryan has a 100% scoring record in league matches at what is now Berry Street Garage Stadium, netting six times in four appearances.

We have won our last four aways against the Bucks, three of these matches being in NPL West.

The other was in the Liverpool Senior Cup in 2022-23 as we triumphed 4-2 on penalties - after a 0-0 draw - to qualify for the final, which we lost to Marine.

Linnets had visited Bootle in the league only 10 days earlier, winning 3-2.

Ryan Brooke opened theand later levelled from the spot before Cam Rooney struck decisively in the 78th minute.

Brookey also scored twice in the corresponding 2023-24 clash, taking his tally to five in three games on Bootle's home patch.

Adam Moseley put us 2-1 up before our now all-time record scorer added his second of the game and our third, another penalty, to seal victory without further reply.

Last season's trip to Vesty Road was also on Boxing Day. It saw a 1-0 Linnets win, courtesy of Ryan Brooke's goal after 14 minutes.

Form guide

Bootle posted their biggest home victory of the NPL West campaign in their last home game, defeating Newcastle Town 5-0 on December 13th.

This was a fourth home league success at Berry Street Garage Stadium, the others coming against Avro, Atherton Collieries and Trafford.

They have drawn against visiting Kidsgrove Athletic, Shifnal Town and Bury but lost to Nantwich Town, Lower Breck, Clitheroe Sporting Khalsa and Congleton.

Linnets have lost our last two NPL West away matcges - at Stalybridge Celtic and Sporting Khalsa - after being unbeaten in the previous six.

We have won nine, drawn four and lost three of our 16 away games in league and cup.

How to get there

By car - take the M57 and at the end of the motorway, keep left at the fork, follow signs for Bootle & Docks/A5036/Liverpool/A59. After 0.1 miles, turn left onto Dunnings Bridge Road/A5036 and follow for 1.0 mile. Turn left onto Park Lane and continue for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Bridle Road and follow for 0.2 miles. Turn left onto Vesty Road - Bootle FC is on the left after 0.2 miles.

By train - the nearest railway station at Aintree. However, there does not appear to be a service from Runcorn on December 26th.

Advisory - there is a meeting at Aintree Racecourse on Boxing Day the first race starts at noon and last race at 3.25pm

Parking

The stadium is on a Business Park and is set back from the road. There is a car park next to the stadium with spaces for 60 vehicles.

Admission

Adult (age 18-64) - £10

Senior (age 65+) - £5

Youth (age 16-17) - £5

Junior (age 13-15) - £3

Under 13s are admitted free with a paying adult