Runcorn Linnets: Club set to announce sponsor of The Linnets Stadium

Feb 4 2010 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN Linnets are poised to announce a sponsor for their newly-named hometown ground.

Work on The Linnets Stadium starts today with contractors moving onto the site of the 1,600-capacity home at Halton Sports in Murdishaw.

The stadium sponsor could be unveiled as soon as tomorrow to coincide with a groundbreaking ceremony for the £230,000 facility which the club will move into for 2010-11 season.

Club officials, having signed a 30-year lease with Halton Borough Council, are remaining guarded about the prospective ground sponsorship deal. But press officer Steve Pritchard admitted negotiations with an interested party were at ‘an advanced stage’.

“It's something all parties are working towards getting sorted as soon as possible so the ground can be sponsored from the get-go,” he added.

The Linnets Stadium was an overwhelming winner from the poll of Trust members, receiving 47 of the 100 votes and twice as many as the second choice on the shortlist of five suggested names.

Work to transform an existing brick building into a clubhouse has already begun thanks to volunteer electrician and Linnets supporter Ste Bignall.

The club will need other volunteers to come forward as work on the various parts of the project - financially supported by Halton council, the Football Foundation, Linnets fans and two area forums – progresses.

Pritchard added: “Tuesday’s board meeting was a planning session for all the things which are going to be coming – to work out responsibilities and all the practicalities that stem from having your own facility.”

Runcorn visit Silsden at Keighley’s Cougar Park on Saturday in the Vodkat League Premier Division.

The postponement due to continuing bad weather of last night's visit to Atherton LR means striker Paul Fildes plus widemen Dave Sherlock and Dave Dempsey will carry over the last game of their three-match suspensions.

Linnets’ next home game is on Tuesday, also against Atherton LR.

Runcorn Town’s Tuesday friendly at Vodkat Premier side Maine Road was rained off.