RUNCORN Linnets Football Club is extending its half-price adult admission offer on Non-League Day, Saturday October 10, to include season-ticket holders of professional Rugby League clubs.

The fans-owned Linnets had already announced they would be charging the concessionary rate of just £3 entry, instead of the normal full-price £6, to season-ticket holders of Barclays Premier League and Sky Bet Championship football clubs plus members of the Armed Forces, for the visit of Silsden.

The club is now cutting the same deal to those with Rugby League club season tickets for First Utility Super League, the Kingstone Press Championship or Kingstone Press League 1, on production of their tickets at the turnstile.

Non-League Day is a chance for football clubs from outside the professional game to attract fans from English football’s top two divisions during an international break and for big-club supporters to show solidarity with teams from further down the sporting ladder.

The national celebration of non-league football sees Yorkshire’s only representatives in the North West Counties League Premier Division come to The Millbank Linnets Stadium in Murdishaw Avenue, Runcorn, WA7 6HP (kick off 3pm).

Linnets’ volunteer officials are hoping to further raise the profile of the Trust-run club by also attracting followers of the 13-a-side clubs in neighbouring towns, including those living in Runcorn itself. They have already secured sponsorship of the match from S&B Pets of Widnes Market.

Derek Greenwood, chairman of Runcorn Linnets, said: “We know there is a strong support for Rugby League in the town and even among our existing fan base with some of our supporters also following Widnes Vikings, Warrington Wolves or St Helens and perhaps even clubs further afield.

“I am sure there are, likewise, a lot of football fans frequenting The Select Security Stadium, The Halliwell Jones Stadium and Langtree Park. With the summer RL season coming to an end, there is now a chance for us to show these supporters what grassroots non-league football has to offer during the winter months and is all about.

“We realise that Non-League Day coincides with the Super League Grand Final and St Helens will hope to be involved in the big game, but we would invite any rugby league fans not heading for Old Trafford to come along to enjoy some live sport with us – fans will be home in front of their TV, or where ever else they may choose to watch the final, in good time.

“They will find that with a relatively cheap pricing structure, football at our level is very family orientated – we offer free admission to those aged 16 year olds and Under if accompanied by a paying adult and at our last Saturday home game we had approaching 50 juniors attending which was really encouraging.

“There is no such thing as segregation and fans are able to meet and mix in a friendly atmosphere. Adults can normally gain admission for themselves and a child, buy a match day programme and obtain a cup of tea and coffee and a soft drink, all for about £10.

“It is a great deal and we are sure those visiting us for the first time will be pleasantly surprised by the standard of football and also the enthusiasm of both our players who play for the love of their sport and fans who support us for the love of the game and our club.”

Linnets’ NLD opponents Silsden are from another of Rugby League’s heartland areas and previously staged their home games at nearby Cougar Park, home of Keighley Cougars RLFC, before upgrading their community facilities so the first team could play on their own ground.

Runcorn Linnets, meanwhile, were formed in 2006 by supporters of the now-defunct Runcorn AFC, a club which towards the end of its existence shared use of the then Auto Quest Stadium with the Vikings as tenants of Halton Borough Council.

The Millbank Linnets Stadium has been Linnets’ home since 2010 after an initial four-year ground share at Witton Albion FC in Northwich.

The Linnets regularly attract crowds of 300+ to a ground which has covered areas for standing and sitting.

There is no licensed bar inside the clubhouse, but the Halton Arms pub adjoins the clubhouse, while hot and cold refreshments are available inside the ground.

Concessionary admission is also available to 17-18 year olds, full-time students on production of relevant ID and those aged 65 & over. Those aged 16 and under pay £1 if unaccompanied.

Holders of a Halton Leisure Card can obtain a £2 reduction on adult admission.