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Runcorn were founded in 1918 when football
became a regular activity for the Highfield and Camden
Tanneries Recreation Club. The club operated under the
Tanneries until 1953 when Runcorn AFC were formed.
In
1918 Runcorn became members of the auxiliary section of
the Lancashire Combination and in the same season won
Lancashire Junior Cup by beating Blackpool RAMC 2-0 in
a replay at Anfield.
The
following season the club became founder members of the
Cheshire County League which they won at the first attempt,
along with successes in 1937, 1939, 1940 and 1963. The
club had just as much success in the Cheshire Senior Cup,
lifting the trophy in 1925, 1936, 1962, 1965, 1968, 1974,
1975 and five successive times between 1985 and 1989.
In
the 1938/39 season the club reached the Third Round of
the FA Cup. After beating Division Three South side Aldershot
Town in the Second Round, Runcorn were drawn against holders
Preston North End at Canal Street. The home side went
down 4-2 in front of a club record crowd of 10,111. Runcorn
also claimed football league scalps in the form of Notts
County (1967/68), Southport (1977/78), Chester City (1987/88),
and Wrexham (1988/89).
The
club became founder members of the Northern Premier League
in 1968. They clinched the title in 1976 and in 1981 won
the treble in the form of the League, the League Cup,
and Shield. With the championship came promotion to the
Alliance Premier League.
Against
the odds Runcorn won the league at their first attempt
by a seven point margin, losing only five games. In 1986
the club reached the Final of the FA Trophy at Wembley,
only to lose 1-0 to Altrincham. In 1993 the club found
themselves in the same position as they once again lost
out, this time 4-1 to Wycombe Wanderers. And a miserable
treble was completed the following year when they were
beaten 2-1 by Woking, making Runcorn the only club to
have reached three FA Trophy Finals and lost them all.
Life
amongst the non-leagues elite proved tough and the club
were finally relegated in 1996 for the first time in their
history. The nearest Runcorn have come to re-gaining their
place in the Conference came in 1998 when they finished
fourth. At the start the 2001/02 the club changed stadiums
from Canal Street to the Autoquest Stadium and, as a result,
also changed its name from Runcorn to Runcorn Halton.
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