Linnets are keen to make seniority will count against Woolton

RUNCORN LINNETS v MSB Woolton

Liverpool County FA Senior Cup second round

Tuesday, January 13th 2026 (ko 7.45pm)

APEC Taxis Stadium, Stockham Lane, Murdishaw, Runcorn, WA7 6GJ.

MSB Woolton visit in the Liverpool Senior Cup, having joined the North West Counties League this season.

While this is our first competitive meeting, MSB, who play two levels below us, are familiar with APEC Taxis Stadium.

They came to us in summer 2024 for a pre-season friendly.

Woolton are presently groundsharing with South Liverpool in Jericho Lane, Otterspool, until their home in Hillfoot Road, Woolton is upgraded.

Tuesday's tie has been reversed as initially was their match with Bootle in the first round - although it was eventually played last month at Jericho Lane after all, following weather-enforced postponements.

Woolton won the contest on penalties.

NWCL newcomers go back almost 100 years

On welcoming MSB Woolton into membership of their Division One North for 2025-26, the NWCL noted that the club had spent much of their existence focused on football coaching and development, rather than competing for status in the English Football Pyramid.

The club previously forayed into the semi-professional game in the 1930s as Woolton Boys’ Club but in the decades since, they have served their community as a grassroots club with teams at all ages.

It wasn't until the 2000s that they were rebranded MSB Woolton. Until that time, the club had been FA registered as Woolton Youth Centre FC.

Their various teams were loosely affiliated with one another but there was no formal committee or constitution until 2005.

MSB can claim to being the biggest grassroots club in England, entered the NWCL this season and play in First Division South.

Form guide

Woolton lie fourth in their dvision after Saturday's 2-1 home victory over leaders Thornton Cleveleys, who they now trail by a single point.

They top the form table after five wins and a draw in their last six matches.

Their away record in the league is W3 D2 L5 F12 A19

Our 5-0 NewYear's Day home defeat by Witton Albion was a big but rare blemish.

We have previously dropped just five points at the APEC when drawing 2-2 with Vauxhall Motors in the opening week and losing 2-1 to Shifnal Town in mid-October.

This means we have won eight of 11 league matches at Murdishaw.

Our only other home setbacks came against higher opposition - a 1-0 defeat by National League North Buxton in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round and a reversal on penalties to NPL Premier outfit Morpeth Town at the Third Qualifying stage of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Facts and figures

Debuts for Cian O'Shea and, as a substitute, Harry McGee on Saturday brought the number of players appearing for the first team this season in our 35 completed matches to 32.

Cian becomes the fifth goalkeeper to feature, following Bayleigh Passant, Harvey Barsdley, George Huyton and Greg Hall with a sixth, George's U21s team colleague Alex Ellams, having made the bench.

Linnets in the Liverpool Senior Cup

Although our predecessor Linnets had played in the competition as Runcorn FC Halton after moving north of the river, we did not enter until 2022-23.

We reached the final at the first attempt, losing a shootout to Marine in front of 2,561 at DCBL Stadium in Widnes.

The following season saw us get to the last eight, losing 2-0 at home to City of Liverpool.

Last time around, we went out 3-1 at Lower Breck in the semis.

Match sponsors

We welcome solicitors JR Levins as match sponsors for Tuesday's tie.

One of their partners, Dave Woods was chairman of MSB Woolton for more than 25 years and is still involved with the visitors.

We trust that representatives from the firm, which is based in Rutland House, Halton Lea (next to Runcorn Shopping City) and guests will enjoy their evening with us.

How to get here 

By car - postcode for APEC Taxis Stadium is WA7 6GJ.

By train - Runcorn is served by two railway stations, Runcorn (Liverpool Lime Street to London line, also with services from Chester and Birmingham)  and Runcorn East (trains to and from Manchester, Chester and North Wales). Both stations are served by buses running close to the stadium, although Runcorn High Street bus station (10-minute walk) offers a wider choice for passengers using Runcorn Railway Station.

By bus - the ground is a short walk from the Runcorn Busway - alight at Orniston Bollingbroke Academy (Halton High School) and follow pathway on the opposite side of the busway from the school to Murdishaw Avenue and cross into Stockham Lane. Many local services (including Shopping City circular) run on the busway as well as those from Widnes, Warrington, Liverpool and Chester.

A local taxi service is provided by APEC Taxis (tel 01928 575757).

Parking

There is a large free car park on site.

Bar and catering

The licensed clubhouse bar offers a range of alcoholic and non-alcholic drinks while hot food, tea, coffee and soft drinks and confectionery are on sale from the tea bar.

Admission

Normal prices have been reduced for this fixture.

Entry at the turnstile is:

Adult - £7

(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)

Concession (Over 65s) - £5

Juniors (18 and under) - £1