ON THE OPPONENT THEIR HISTORY

Runcorn Town have come a long way from their very first season in 1968 when the club were one of the founder members of the Runcorn Sunday League. They were formed as CKD, a works team from the ‘D’ section of the local Castner Kellner plant.

It’s fair to say that the club has had a few identities over the years. The club changed its name to Mond in 1970, reflecting the Mond Division of ICI, which ran the Castner Keller plant, and three years later added the Rangers to their name. In 2005 came the latest name change to Runcorn Town to try and bring a more professional look to the club in general, as well as trying to improve facilities at the club with a view to joining the Non-League pyramid. This they would achieve five years later, but we are jumping ahead, so let’s start at the beginning.

The club’s early years were not that great, with Runcorn having a thriving Sunday League at the time. So in 1973, the club decided to try Saturday football in the impressive Warrington and District League (WDL), joining Division Five. At the end of that first season, they amalgamated with struggling ICI Weston, who played in the WDL Division One and became one of the strongest sides in the league. They remained in the WDL until 1984, when they were elected to join the West Cheshire League (WCL) Division Two.

The club established itself as a solid mid-table team and, in 1991/92, won their first silverware in the West Cheshire Bowl.

The following two seasons saw third-place finishes, also reaching two more Bowl Finals, of which they won one. Promotion finally came in 1994/95 when they finished second in the league scoring 118 goals. They also reached the Final of the Cheshire Amateur Cup. Still, they lost to Poulton Victoria in a match played at Prenton Park, Tranmere.

Despite sharing the Bill Weight Memorial Trophy in that first season, Division One proved a struggle. They were relegated for the first time in the club’s history in 2001/02. Success returned in 2004/05, with the team finishing as runners-up in Division Two, winning the Runcorn Senior Cup and reaching the final of the Bowl.

Back in Division One, the new season got off to a good start, with the Bill Weight Memorial Cup won early on. The Runcorn Cup was added, but on the season’s final day, they slipped into the relegation places for the first time to suffer a heart-breaking relegation. Town quickly regrouped and bounced back the following season by winning Division Two for the first time, also being the club’s first Championship.

The following three seasons saw top-four finishes, although the main progression was off the field as the ground was transformed. Hardstanding seating and floodlights were installed for the first time, with the dressing rooms also upgraded.

This enabled the club to be elected to the North West Counties League at the start of the 2010/11 season. The club also entered the FA Vase and the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time.

It is fair to say that the first season in the league exceeded all expectations under Simon Burton’s leadership. The team lost just two league matches as they secured promotion to the Premier Division as runners-up, with James McShane finishing as the league’s overall leading scorer with 43 goals. The Quarter Final of the Division One Trophy and the Semi Final of the Challenge Cup was also reached.

In the clubs’ FA Vase debut season, they also wrote headlines as they progressed through four successive away ties before bowing out in the Last 32 stage against Dunston UTS, the last remaining North West Counties League side in the competition.

The first season in the Premier Division saw Town continue in the same vein that they left Division One, with the team losing out on the title on the last day of the season to Ramsbottom United. James McShane again topped the league scoring charts, with Town scoring over 120 goals in all competitions.

The club were also once again the last remaining NWCL side in the FA Vase, this time reaching a replay in the Last 32 before bowing out and making their debut in the FA Cup, winning two games before bowing out to Evo-Stik League side Ashton United.

The 2012/13 season saw Town finish fourth in the league, with the main highlight of the season coming in the FA Vase. This saw the club reach the Last 16 for the first time, losing in extra time to Walsall Wood. Another good scalp came in the Cheshire Senior Cup with a 5-0 away win at Warrington, which earned the “Team of the Round” award.

A fifth-place finish followed the next season. The club disappointingly lost at holders Whitley Bay in the Second Round of the FA Vase. Still, the club had its first decent FA Cup run. Wins against Bootle, Goole and Witton Albion set up a tie at Conference North leaders Barrow, 83 places above them in the pyramid. Town shocked their hosts with a 1-0 win thanks to Andy Potter’s stunning goal. Town lost in the Third Qualifying Round to Norton United.