RUNCORN Linnets have been handed a trip to AFC Blackpool on the opening day of the North West Counties League Premier Division on Saturday, August 8 (kick off 3pm).

This is the second time Linnets will have launched a league campaign with a visit to the Fylde coast club, the first occasion coming at the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

That game was notable not only for a 3-2 victory against an AFC side making their debut in the NWCL’s top flight after winning the Division One title but also the first appearances in Linnets colours of goalkeeper Richie Mottram and midfielder Michael Ellison.

Both have gone on to become stalwarts at the Millbank Linnets Stadium and have a player-of-the-season award each under their belts.

Linnets’ first home match will be on Tuesday, August 11, ko 7.45pm – against Ashton Athletic, one of only two teams to inflict a home defeat on eventual runners-up Runcorn last season.

The trans-Pennine journey to Glasshoughton Welfare in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday, August 15 (ko 3pm) will complete an interesting first eight days of the season for Joey Dunn’s men.

The draw for the Emirates FA Cup means that Runcorn Linnets, as one of 736 clubs entering at the opening stage of this season’s competition, will be visiting unfamiliar territory.

Glasshoughton, based near Castleford, are members of the Northern Counties East League Division One after being relegated from the Premier Division at the end of 2014-15 season. This will be the first time the two clubs have met.

The winners will receive £1,500 in prize money and a home tie against another Yorkshire side in the preliminary round. Glasshoughton Welfare or Runcorn Linnets will receive either Penistone Church from Sheffield or Pontefract Collieries, both of whom would also be new opposition for Linnets.

Both are NCEL outfits – Penistone, who were founded as long ago as 1906, are in Division One while Pontefract are a Premier Division club. The preliminary round is on Saturday, August 29th – winners from each tie collecting £1,925 from the FA Cup prize fund.

In the FA Vase, Linnets are exempt until the first round proper on Saturday October 31st and will therefore sit out the two qualifying rounds.

The draw for the North West Counties League’s Men United League Cup second round has thrown up the prospect of a first ever meeting between Runcorn Linnets and Widnes FC. Premier Division Linnets will visit the winners of the all-Division One first-round tie between Irlam and Widnes, on a date to be announced.

Linnets have arranged another pre-season friendly - at the renamed NWC Division One club Northwich Manchester Villa (formerly Northwich Flixton Villa) who have now switched ground to Manchester Regional Arena, Rowsley Street, Manchester, M11 3FF. The game is on Friday, July 17 (ko 7.30pm kick off).

The Murdishaw men will by then already have launched their warm-up campaign with a game at Greenalls Padgate St Oswald’s of the Cheshire League this Saturday (July 11), ko 2pm – the game being at the Warrington Campus of Chester University in Crab Lane, Warrington, WA2 0DB.

Runcorn Football Supporters Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held at the Union Tavern on Wednesday 22nd July, at 7.30pm.

Entry is still open for Runcorn Linnets’ Corporate Golf Day at Runcorn Golf Club, Clifton Road, on Friday, July 31. The cost is £200 for a team of four, including dinner. To obtain full details and an application form, get in touch with the club via Contact Us at www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk