League season begins with Colls trip

Atherton Colllieries v RUNCORN LINNETS

Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division

Saturday, August 9th (ko 3pm)

The Dreams2Reality Stadium, Alder Street, Atherton, M46 9EY.

History trail

Linnets launch the 2025-26 NPL West season on familiar ground.

The former stomping ground of our manager Brad Cooke as a player, captain and boss, we first visited what is today known as Dreams2Reality Stadium in the opening game of 2007-08.

That was our second season, following promotion to North West Counties Division One (now Premier Division) as Division Two runners-up in our debut campaign.

We have also visited in the FA Cup and FA Trophy, being beaten both times, but triumphed 2-1 in last season's corresponding league fixture, a Friday night game in October, thanks to goals from Jack Grundy and Taylor Bowen.

This is a first competitive outing this season for Colls, who had a walkover win in the FA Cup with Farsley Celtic having pulled out of the National Leagues System after the extra preliminary round draw.

Team news

Having steered Colls out of relegation trouble in 2024-25, Michael Clegg has strengthened their squad ahead of his first full season back in charge.

Clegg has snapped up Ben Rydel, an NPL West title winner with Widnes last season, for his second Atherton stint.

New arrivals also include Luke Nock, a technical midfielder, who captained Wythenshawe Town and previously played for Rochdale's youth teams and Sam Sheridan, a veteran with more than 200 appearances in Conference Premier and North.

Versatile defender Javid Swaby-Neavin brings experience from Hyde United, Radcliffe, Warrington Rylands and Ashton United.

Rodney Ajayi is an seasoned midfielder (ex-Wythenshawe Town and Macclesfield); goalkeeper Conor Robson was previously with Leek Town and defender Niall Battersby,  returns to the club after also serving Ashton United, Bury, and Northwich Victoria.

Having made his maiden competitive appearance in the FA Cup victory over one of his former clubs in Clitheroe, Scott Bakkor is in contention to make his league debut for Linnets against another.

Long-serving Lewis Doyle makes his latest return to the club from which he joined us in 2021.

Suspended Dec McLoughlin serves his second match of three after dismissal in the final game of 2024-25 with FC United of Manchester.

Luke Wall is expected to return after being unavailable for last Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup victory over Clitheroe.

Player landmark

Bayleigh Passant is in line to make his 100th Linnets appearance in this league season opener.

Getting there

CAR -Take the M6 North, exit at junction 22, and follow A579 into Atherton. Once in Atherton, turn onto High Street and then Alder Street, where the ground is located. The stadiums postcode is M46 9EY.

RAIL - There is no direct service with trains from Runcorn transferring at either Liverpool Lime Street or Crewe and then Wigan. Both journeys involve a 5-minute walk from Wigan North Western to Wigan Wallgate.

The service from Runcorn East has connections at Warrington Bank Quay and the same Wigan stations or alternatively from Earlestown and Manchester Victoria.

It is a 0.6-mile walk from Atherton railway station to the ground.

COACH - The Travel Club coach to the game is fully booked.

Admission prices

Adults: £10

Concessions: £7

Under 18s: £4

Under 11s: Free