Linnets look to get back on track against pioneering visitors

RUNCORN LINNETS v Sporting Khalsa

Pitching In Northern Premier League West

Tuesday, October 21st 2025 (ko 7.45pm)

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

Sporting Khalsa will be the second club new to the Northern Premier League West Division to roll up in Runcorn in the space of four days.

They were originally due to visit on Saturday, September 20th but our Isuzu FA Trophy duties took precedence.

Rearrangement of the fixture sees them having to travel from the West Midlands in midweek.

Although making their debut in NPL West, tonight's visitors are well established at Step 4. They have spent the last four seasons in the NPL Midlands but were moved laterally in the summer.

About our visitors

Sporting Khalsa is a trend-setting club with a successful if relatively short history.

The club's name and club crest reflects its Sikh heritage but it is part of - and represents - a diverse neighbourhood.

Khalsa refers to a devout ckmmunity within the faith, established in the 17th century. The club's badge features a Khanda, a double-edged sword which is an official Sikh symbol.

In 2005, 14 years after starting as a Sunday League outfit, the Lions became the first British Asian semi-professional football club to own its own ground, buying Abbey Park Stadium (formerly home to Bloxwich Town).

Five years later, the ambitious club had announced the purchase from the Receivers of five-acre freehold grounds at Willenhall Town FC.

Refurbishment of the pitch and work on the social facilities cost more than half a million pounds and has been its home since 2010-11.

In their first season at Aspray Arena, Sporting continued a rapid climb of the leagues by securing promotion to the Premier Division of the West Midlands Regional League.

In 2014-15, they were crowned champions with a record 117 points from 42 games - scoring 143 goals in winning 38, drawing three and losing just one.

The feat was overseen by their present manager Ian Rowe.

A first season at Step 5 in the Midlands League Premier Division saw the club finish third while reaching the Fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Cup.

In 2018-19, a further £1m investment in facilities saw the addition of a 3G pitch, 300- seater stand and new changing rooms.

Restructuring of the National Leagues System led to promotion to the NPL for 2021-22 on their PPG record over the two seasons curtailed by Covid.

The club finished eighth, fourth, 12th and sixth in four Midlands Division campaigns.

Form guide

Sporting have largely struggled on their travels this season but after losing their first four away games in the league, their form has improved.

They have picked up four points from their last two trips, winning 1-0 at Bootle while drawing 1-1 at Kidsgrove Athletic.

Before that, the Lions had shipped 11 goals while scoring just one in defeats at Newcastle Town, Mossley, Stalybridge and Trafford.

They drew 1-1 at Boston Town, who currently lead United Counties League Premier Division North, in the FA Cup First Qualifying Round, but recovered from conceding in the third minute of stoppage time to win the home replay 2-0.

However, they went out of the Isuzu FA Trophy at the equivalent stage, losing 1-0 at former NPL Midlands colleagues Coleshill Town.

Khalsa come to the APEC after defeating Bury 2-0 at home in the league on Saturday.

Runcorn Linnets have lost three successive home games in the FA Trophy, FA Cup and NPL West, respectively after being unbeaten in our first seven outings of the season at the APEC.

2025-26 player stats

Most starts

16 Adam Rooney

15 Matty Rain

Naim Arsan

14 Joe Ferguson

Scott Bakkor

Harvey Washington

Most appearances

18 Matty Rain

17 Naim Arsan

16 Adam Rooney

15 Joe Ferguson

Harvey Washington

14 Peter Wylie

Scott Bakkor

Eden Gumbs

Leading scorers

11 Scott Bakkor (inc 2 pens)

4 Naim Arsan (inc 1 pen)

Lewis Crane (inc 1 pen)

3 Ryan Brooke

2 Sean Miller (inc 1 pen)

Oskar Rosenblatt

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.

Bytaxi - a local 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

Adult - £11

(£2 discount for Halton Leisure Card holders)

Concession (Over 65s) - £8

Juniors (18 and under) - £2