Linnets land experienced goalkeeper Greg Hall

Seasoned goalkeeper Greg Hall has signed for Runcorn Linnets and makes his debut in today's Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying home tie against Buxton.

Greg is one of the North West's biggest, most enduring non-league characters, who we have come across on numerous occasions against various clubs.

His move to APEC Taxis has certainly been a long time coming.

He has been linked with Linnets at intervals over his career and has come close to joining us in the past.

Greg, 39, has almost 500 appearances to his credit in North West Counties League alone but has also played in the Northern Premier League, most recently for Wythenshawe Town.

He aopeared 45 times for them last season, having aiding their promotion to Step 4 via the NWCL Premier Division play-offs.

Greg has certainly proved himself a top performer.

With his self-styled goalkeeping, forged a special relationship with our fans while in the 2010s starring for Maine Road, Glossop North End and 1874 Northwich.

At the height of Linnets' rivalry with GNE, Greg was our nemesis as they pipped us to the NWCL Premier Division title in 2014-15 - this being the first of our three successive runners-up finishes.

Greg also appeared at Wembley in the FA Vase final that season.

He notched up a century of outings for the Derbyshire club before switching to 1874 in December 2015. He appeared 143 times for the Greens.

Greg has won the NWCL's Goalkeeper of the Year award four times. A long career has also taken him to Stalybridge Celtic, Radcliffe, Droylsden, Ashton United and Nantwich Town.

He had two spells with Witton Albion, aggregating 92 appearances and being named their 2018-19 Player of the Year.

This has been an eventful and very challenging spell for our goalkeepers.

Harvey Bardsley has been recalled by Blackpool from his loan, after performing admirably in his five Linnets games.

Bayleigh Passant and understudy Alex Ellams remain on the injured list.

Ellams' U21s colleague George Huyton, who made a strong first-team debut in the midweek Isuzu FA Trophy match at home to Morpeth Town, has now signed on dual registration for Litherland REMYCA - under their new manager Jamie Rainford, the former Linnets assistant.

Brad Cooke has solved the conundrum by turning to the vast experience of Greg Hall, aptly nicknamed Fingers.

Greg's most recent service was for West Didsbury & Chorlton.

He joined West after Runcorn's victory at Brookburn Road earlier in this already memorable FA Cup campaign, as their regular 'keeper Ollie Martin was unavailable.

With more history in the competition now in our sights, we can now welcome Greg Hall to the APEC - at long last!