FA Cup tie is just the ticket

West Didsbury & Chorlton v RUNCORN LINNETS

Emirates FA Cup First Round Qualifying

Saturday, August 30th 2025, ko 3pm.

The Step Places Stadium (The Recreation Ground),Brookburn Road, Chorlton,

Manchester, M21 8FE.

NOTE: THIS IS AN ALL-TICKET GAME

Tickets are only available in advance.

Prices

• £8 for adults

• £6 for concessions (16s and 17s, 60+, students)

• £1 for under 16s

Purchase details for Runcorn Linnets fans

1. Register for or sign into Shocal

2. Select West Didsbury & Chorlton v Runcorn Linnets (Away Supporter) via this link

3. Enter PIN 2441

4. Add your tickets to your basket - please ensure everyone in your group has a ticket, including under 16s.

5. Make payment.

History trail

We have only ever visited Brockburn Road in league matches, all five previous away meetings coming in the NWCL Premier Division (between 2014 and 2017).

This will be our first trip to the South Manchester club for eight years.

Linnets have won three and lost two, scoring nine goals while conceding seven.

We were beaten 4-0 on our last visit, early in our 2017-18 title-winning season, although West's victory was countered by a 7-0 Limnets win in the return fixture.

Results of previous visits:

Past match action at Brookburn Road, featuring (from top) Antony Hickey, Mark Houghton, Paul Shanley and Stuart Wellstead. Archive pictures from our last visit in 2017 by James Eastup.

Tuesday, March 18th 2014

West Didsbury & Chorlton 0

Runcorn Linnets 2

Linnets scorers:

Kevin Towey (11'), Mark Houghton (82').

Attendance: 162

Saturday, April 18th 2015

West Didsbury & Chorlton 2

Runcorn Linnets 0

WD&C scorers:

David Short (28'), Scott Mason (87').

Attendance: 220.

Saturday, September 26th 2015

West Didsbury & Chorlton 0

Runcorn Linnets 3

Linnets scorers: Kyle Hamid (41' & 52'), Francis Smith (59').

Attendance:188.

Saturday, February 11th 2017

West Didsbury & Chorlton 1

Runcorn Linnets 4

WD&C scorer: Saul Henderson (90').

Linnets scorers: Paul Shanley (13'), Mark Houghton (36 & 39'), Stuart Wellstead (54').

Attendance: 227

Monday, August 28th 2017

West Didsbury & Chorlton 4 Runcorn Linnets 0

WD&C scorers: Saul Henderson (11', 16' & 54') Nic Evangalinos (38').

Attendance: 484.

West Didsbury & Chorlton's FA Cup record

WD&C have reached the qualifying stages of the FA Cup twice before.

In 2022-23, they won 1-0 at Longridge Town in the extra preliminary round and 3-2 in the preliminary before falling 1-0 at home to Macclesfield in the first round qualifying.

West went one better last season (2024-25), going down 2-1 at home to Darlington in a second qualifier after victories over Burscough (3-0, H, Extra Prelim); Glossop North End (2-1, A, Prelim) and Silsden, 4-2, H, 1st Qual).

In this season's competition, they have beaten Winsford United (2-1, H, Extra Prelim replay after a 1-1 draw) and Brighouse Town (1-0, H, Prelim).

WD&C's first FA Cup appearance was in 2013-14, when they defeated Abbey Hey 2-0 in an extra preliminary home tie.

Their biggest win in the competition came in 2017-18 when triumphing 5-0 at Athersley Recreation, also in the extra prelim.

Their heaviest defeats have been 0-3 against Burscough (2013-14, Home, prelim); Brighouse Town (2014-15, H, prelim); 1874 Northwich (2015-16, A, extra prelim) and Prescot Cables (2023-24, H, prelim).

Form guide

Fifth-placed Linnets are one of three still undefeated sides in NPL West, after two wins and two draws. All 100% records have gone. The other unbeaten sides are leaders Lower Breck with four wins and a draw and mid-table Vauxhall Motors, whose four draws from five games include the 2-2 result at APEC Taxis Stadium.

WD&C lie 13th in NWCL Premier Division with seven points from five games, having on Bank Holiday Monday won 4-1 at City of Liverpool to pick up their first league victory since the second game of the campaign, when triumphing in midweek 2-1 at Glossop.

At home, they have lost to Pilkington 5-2 on tne opening day and Atherton LR 1-0 while in between drawing with Euxton Villa 3-3.

Current connections

West's squad includes three former Linnets favourites from our 2017-18 title-winning squad.

Archive pictures by James Eastup

Midfielder Kris Holt became something of a talisman during a few spells with us. He made his debut in November 2016, making 102 appearances in total with 19 goals.

Central defender Jimmy Moore effectively had just the one season with with us as he departed in the first week of September 2018 to rejoin Trafford. However, he'd had a significant impact in his 49 outings (including 48 starts), picking up the Supporters Club and Players' Player of the Year awards.

Defender Adam Jones made 34 appearances (with 12 starts) as a young right-sided utility player and scored two goals, including a long-range screamer at Maine Road (above) as we were promoted to the NPL as champions. Adam opted to stay in The Hallmark Security League, signing for Padiham in summer 2018.

Picture by Peter Cantwell

Linnets manager Brad Cooke and assistant Rob Sadler had a promising five-month spell in charge at Brookburn Road in late 209 before departing to take the helm at Atherton Collieries.

What a coincidence!

This is the first of two national FA competition ties coming up in quick succession in which we'll be up against an opposition boss called Paul Marshall.

The second is the FA Trophy home tie on Saturday, September 6th against Garforth Town.

Needless to say, they are two different managers with th same name!!

If it's a draw...

Should scores be level after 90 minutes, the tie will be replayed on Tuesday, September 2nd at APEC Taxis Stadium with a 7.45pm kick-off.

How to get there

By car - The postcode for the ground is M21 8FE.

By rail/tram The Step Places Stadium is one mile from Chorlton Metrolink station, on the East Didsbury and Manchester Airport lines.

Follow Google Maps directions to find your way to the ground.

The Metrolink network can be accessed from any of Manchester’s central train stations. There are trains from Runcorn East to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria.

Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website for tram times and more information.

Car parking

Parking inside the ground is for players, officials and disabled only. There is NO PARKING on Brookburn Road or on any other roads in Chorltonville, which are private roads.

General parking for CARS and COACHES will be at Hardy Lane Car Park. Address Hardy Lane, Chorlton M21 8DP.