Linnets striving to succeed second time around as Trophy is back in the spotlight

RUNCORN LINNETS v Bury

Isuzu FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying

Saturday, October 4th ko 3pm

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

Please note that admisssion to this tie is by ticket only.

Linnets fans can purchase tickets here with the purchase window staying open until noon on Saturday.

Here we go again!

Pictures by Kelly Jones

Cup matches continue to come thick and fast. By close of play on Saturday, we can expect to have already completed eight knockout games compared to six matches in Pitching In Northern Premier League West.

Make that eight and a half, if you count the abandoned FA Trophy tie against Bury of which this is a re-run.

The abandonment of the contest against the Shakers 10 days ago hasn't helped a congested early-season fixture schedule.

But after being largely starved of recent success in the Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Trophy, there are complaints at the APEC, particularly with the funds that these competitions bring in.

We have also had exposure through live coverage on terrestrial TV, which can only have helped to raise our profile and that of the NPL.

Despite the very early start demanded by the lunchtime kick off, the five-hour round trip to Pickering Town was rewarding in every respect.

It has been just as well, however, that our squad was strengthened during the summer as resources have been severely stretched by unavailability and injuries.

With the visit of National League North side Buxton pending next Saturday as we venture into the fourth Round Qualifying of the FA Chp, we will be tested again as attention reverts for now to non-league's premier knockout competition and the resumption of battle with Bury.

The original tie will not show in the record books, which is a particular shame for Scott Bakkor and Djavan Pedro, whose goals have been chalked off.

But as suggested by the 1-1 scoreline, when torrential rain wiped out what had been a very entertaining clash, it had been a very even contest.

With a level scoreline, neither side has been disadvantaged as we look to complete the fixture at the second attempt.

Weather permitting, the tie will be played to a finish this time it will go to penalties if scores are even at 90 minutes.

The winners will be at home to NPL Premier Division side Morpeth Town on Tuesday, October 7th, when we are scheduled to entertain table-topping Lower Breck for the first time in the League.

Clubs with a common goal

We have seen quite a lot of Bury in the last few weeks, having met for the first time at Gigg Lane earlier in the month.

This is the second occasion in less than a fortnight that we will have welcomed the twice former FA Cup winners to the APEC after an ill-fated first visit.

The Shakers have yet to visit again for a league game in the second half of the season.

Despite vastly-different backgrounds, there are similarities between the clubs with both being part of fans-led revivals.

While we incorporated the nickname of our predecessors into our new identity, Bury successfully reclaimed the name and history of the original club.

Bury FC had been expelled from the EFL in August 2019 after a proposed takeover collapsed, their first six games of 2019-20 having been suspended.

The role played by phoenix club Bury AFC in the return of Bury FC is highly significant.

It is their place in the football pyramid that was taken up in the renaissance after a merger of two supporter organisations.

Bury Football Club Supporters' Society now has a majority shareholding (51%) in the reborn club with the remaining 49% owned by benefactors, identified as Bury fans.

It was all made possible by a vote to amalgamate Bury FC Supporters' Society and the Shakers Community Society, which had run Bury AFC. 

Bury AFC operated for three seasons from 2020 to 2023, playing matches at neighbouring Radcliffe FC's Stainton Park.

The first of these campaigns was abandoned because of Covid but the second saw promotion as champions of North West Counties League Division One North.

A season of consolidation followed with fourth place being achieved in NPL Premier Division before the merger of the fans groups enabled a return to Gigg Lane as Bury FC in 2024-25.

Bury AFC had reached the quarter-finals of the FA Vase in 23-24, losing 5-4 on penalties at Congleton Town after a 1-1 draw.

Their record is recognised as part of Bury FC's history, which dates back to 1885.

Runcorn Linnets FC formed in 2006 as a fans-owned successor to Runcorn AFC, which had been latterly operating as Runcorn FC Halton at Widnes and then Prescot.

The club embraced the achievements and history of its forerunner, founded in 1918.

Runcorn AFC were unable to continue after the 2005-06 season for financial reasons but initially lay dormant before being wound up.

The existing Linnets Independent Supporters Trust was remodelled to give Runcorn Linnets fan ownership.

A supporters' meeting on April 28th 2006 saw the birth of the new club, which won a race against time to join the National League System at Step 6 in 2006-07 season.

Having entered administration in November 2020, Bury's revival was more protracted.

But fan power at both clubs prevailed, ensuring the continuation of a long footballing tradition in their respective towns.

Player landmarks

Ryan Brooke and Lewis Doyle are both one start short of 150 in Linnets colours.

Ryan has made 181 appearance overall and hjs goal in the home FA Cup draw against Ashton was the 80th of his Runcorn career.

Lewis Doyle has appeared in 167 games overall, scoring 25 times (once this season).

Naim Arsan's next appearance will be his 50th for Runcorn, his current total being 46+3 sub with ten goals, including (like Ryan) three so far in 2025-26.

Admission

Entry to the tie will again be by ticket only.

Tickets will be on sale until noon on matchday.

As a gesture of good faith, normal admission prices have been significantly reduced for this match.

The cost of tickets is:

£6 - adults,

£4 - concessions (65+, 19-22 and disabled)

£1 - 18s and under

Linnets supporters can purchase tickets here

Fans planning to attend are reminded that there will be no admission without a ticket - payment at the turnstile is not available for this fixture.

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.