Boss pleased as fans return
RUNCORN Town boss Paul McManus was pleased with his side’s performance during a thrilling 5-5 draw on Tuesday – the first game to be seen by fans following the Covid pandemic.
“Thanks to Kev (Towey, WIdnes boss) and his staff and players for last nights game. Big thanks also to
Steve and all of the Committee as the pitch was first class – the best it has
‘‘This means that there can be a maximum 15% capacity of the minimum Ground Grading capacity of the Step that we play at. So this means that there can be no more than 150 paying spectators in attendance for this particular game.
‘‘Cup rules state that tickets must be sold on a 50/50 basis, so the game will be an all-ticket affair with Runcorn Town receiving been since my arrival despite some really poor weather.
‘‘The weather was certainly no reflection on the game as both teams played out an entertaining 5-5 drew. Some really pleasing aspects of our play, again most notable was our attacking threat and the football we played.
‘‘Last season our clean sheet record was great and we need that to also start clicking now, as that gives a total of 75 tickets for the game.
Tickets on are sale until next Thursday, September 5 but were expected to sell quickly as they were on sale at Tuesday’s friendly against Widnes.
REGARDING league fixtures, NWCFL said this week: ‘‘We are unable to produce a set of fixtures until the Northern Premier League’s have been published. the base for the attacking players we have to flare.
‘‘I felt although some poor goals were conceded that was overall our best performance in pre-season, against a strong team from the league above which shows our quality.
‘‘Lastly it was fantastic to be back at the ground and playing in front of fans. That’s what football is all about.”
Match report: p39
‘‘They have to wait for the EFL and National League so they expect to issue their fixtures by the end of August at the earliest. As a result we expect to issue fixtures in early September, but we will provide more detail nearer the time.’’
The NWCFL said that cup competitions may be revived as late as May in a one-off format to boost revenue for clubs.
MANAGER Calum McIntyre has continued his player recruitment as Linnets carried on their positive pre-season.
In a week that saw Linnets beat Vauxhall Motors 2-0 before dispatching Ashton United 1-0 on Tuesday night, the new gaffer has drafted in two of his young proteges on loan from Chester FC, where both are on professional forms.
Midfielder Louis Hayes was with Linnets last season and has already renewed acquaintance with those who were likewise in our 2019-20 squad, at pre-season training and in warm-up matches.
Joining Louis at The Millbank this time around is striker Stuart Crilly who has played for Chester in the Cheshire Senior Cup and spent time on loan last season at Prescot Cables in the NPL and NWCL Premier Division outfit Rylands (now Warrington Rylands 1906).
Hailing from Liverpool, Stuart is a versatile midfielder with a keen eye for goal – having joined Chester from Oldham in March 2017.
Defender Josh Brizell has also signed up following impressive displays in pre-season. Josh, 28, started his career at Rochdale before moving on to Hyde in the Conference National and Conference North, making 119 appearances for the Tigers and scoring eight goals.
He joined Marine in the Northern Premier League’s top flight in 2016.
Able to play as a right back or centre back,
Josh appeared against Linnets in September 2018 for Colwyn Bay in the 1-0 NPL victory on the North Wales Coast. He had joined the Seagulls from Marine 12 months earlier.
LIverpool FC graduate Alex Turner, a midfielder, has also officially joined the squad, as has former Salford City youth scholar Adam Barthram, a left back who loves to get forward.
Linnets host Witton Albion this Saturday at 3pm.
Match report: p37