Runcorn Town Receive First Division South Trophy
Mon 20th April 2026 | Runcorn Town | By Martin Fallon
Runcorn Town were presented with the First Division North Championship Trophy after their home victory against Haughmond in their final league game of the season.
League President Paul Lawler was on hand to present the trophy to Runcorn captain Mark Holdridge, marking the first trophy for Runcorn since joining the league ahead of the 2010/11 season.
The league win caps a remarkable turnaround for a team who were in danger of falling out of the league at the start of last season after losing their first 11 matches of the season. They rallied to finish in 12th place, with this season being a record breaking one in many aspects.
They started the season with five wins from six in July/August, sitting in fifth place at the end of the month, four points behind early pacesetters Telford Town. The only blip was a 2-1 home loss against Sandbach United, this remarkably being the only game they lost in the league all season.
September brought draws against New Mills and Eccleshall, winning every other game including progression in the FA Vase with a 2-0 win at Premier Division side Stockport Town. October was drama filled, with a win at Alsager Town mid month taking them top of the league for the first time. They had three league wins and a draw with Ashville, and in the cups had penalty shoot out wins against AFC Liverpool in the Macron Cup and Cammell Laird 1907 in the Edward Case Cup, but bowed out of the FA Vase at home to Fulwood Amateurs.
The start of November brought a 1-0 win at Telford Town as the top two clashed, and they went on to win all four league games they played. Telford did get revenge with a win over Runcorn in the Macron Cup. December and January saw Runcorn win all eight games, seven in the league plus a win at Sandbach United in the Edward Case Cup. They had a nine point cushion at this point over Eccleshall.
The winning run extended to 13 games by the end of February, that month seeing Runcorn record their biggest ever NWCFL victory against Telford Town. They also squeezed past Stockport Georgians on penalties in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Their lead at the top was cut though due to Wolverhampton Sporting's withdrawal, Runcorn losing six points as a result with Eccleshall losing just one.
March was a stunning month, with wins in their first seven games extending their winning run to a club record 20 successive games. This included five league wins, a win at National League North side Marine in the Liverpool Senior Cup, as well as a win at Nelson in the Edward Case Cup that saw them reach the Final for the first time.
Another win against Cheadle Heath Nomads would have seen them win the league title on the final day of March, but Cheadle ended the winning run with a 1-1 draw. Runcorn had to wait three days to confirm the title with a win over Alsager Town. They won four of their five league games in April, the blip being a 2-2 draw at Stockport Georgirns, however that result ensured that Runcorn went unbeaten away from home in the league all season.
The league wins means that Runcorn will return to Step 5 after a four year absence. However whether that is to the NWCFL Premier Division or the Midland League remains to be seen. That decision will be made by the Footbal Association in May.
The season isn't over for the club just yet. They bowed out of the Liverpool Senior Cup on Tuesday with a loss at local rivals Runcorn Linnets in the Semi Finals, but they have the Edward Case Cup Final, Cheshire Senior Cup Final and Champions Cup Final still to come.
Runcorn Town Receive First Division South Trophy
Mon 20th April 2026 | Runcorn Town
By Martin Fallon
Runcorn Town were presented with the First Division North Championship Trophy after their home victory against Haughmond in their final league game of the season.
League President Paul Lawler was on hand to present the trophy to Runcorn captain Mark Holdridge, marking the first trophy for Runcorn since joining the league ahead of the 2010/11 season.
The league win caps a remarkable turnaround for a team who were in danger of falling out of the league at the start of last season after losing their first 11 matches of the season. They rallied to finish in 12th place, with this season being a record breaking one in many aspects.
They started the season with five wins from six in July/August, sitting in fifth place at the end of the month, four points behind early pacesetters Telford Town. The only blip was a 2-1 home loss against Sandbach United, this remarkably being the only game they lost in the league all season.
September brought draws against New Mills and Eccleshall, winning every other game including progression in the FA Vase with a 2-0 win at Premier Division side Stockport Town. October was drama filled, with a win at Alsager Town mid month taking them top of the league for the first time. They had three league wins and a draw with Ashville, and in the cups had penalty shoot out wins against AFC Liverpool in the Macron Cup and Cammell Laird 1907 in the Edward Case Cup, but bowed out of the FA Vase at home to Fulwood Amateurs.
The start of November brought a 1-0 win at Telford Town as the top two clashed, and they went on to win all four league games they played. Telford did get revenge with a win over Runcorn in the Macron Cup. December and January saw Runcorn win all eight games, seven in the league plus a win at Sandbach United in the Edward Case Cup. They had a nine point cushion at this point over Eccleshall.
The winning run extended to 13 games by the end of February, that month seeing Runcorn record their biggest ever NWCFL victory against Telford Town. They also squeezed past Stockport Georgians on penalties in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Their lead at the top was cut though due to Wolverhampton Sporting's withdrawal, Runcorn losing six points as a result with Eccleshall losing just one.
March was a stunning month, with wins in their first seven games extending their winning run to a club record 20 successive games. This included five league wins, a win at National League North side Marine in the Liverpool Senior Cup, as well as a win at Nelson in the Edward Case Cup that saw them reach the Final for the first time.
Another win against Cheadle Heath Nomads would have seen them win the league title on the final day of March, but Cheadle ended the winning run with a 1-1 draw. Runcorn had to wait three days to confirm the title with a win over Alsager Town. They won four of their five league games in April, the blip being a 2-2 draw at Stockport Georgirns, however that result ensured that Runcorn went unbeaten away from home in the league all season.
The league wins means that Runcorn will return to Step 5 after a four year absence. However whether that is to the NWCFL Premier Division or the Midland League remains to be seen. That decision will be made by the Footbal Association in May.
The season isn't over for the club just yet. They bowed out of the Liverpool Senior Cup on Tuesday with a loss at local rivals Runcorn Linnets in the Semi Finals, but they have the Edward Case Cup Final, Cheshire Senior Cup Final and Champions Cup Final still to come.
