At this afternoon's home game, Runcorn Linnets will hold a minute's silence in memory of Steve Hipwell, a member of the Linnets' Northern Premier League title-winning team of 1975-76, who has died aged 63 after a three-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

The tribute will take place before the Emirates FA Cup preliminary-round tie against Pontefract Collieries at The Millbank Linnets Stadium (ko 3pm).

At the same time, respects will be paid to the two Worthing United footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, both 23, who were killed in last week's Shoreham Airshow crash, and also the other victims of the disaster.

Steve Hipwell joined Runcorn AFC from Hillingdon Borough after starting his career as a youngster at Chelsea and he played a major part in one of the most successful periods in the club's history.

A very clever and skilful right-sided midfield player with the ability to score spectacular goals, he made the Number 7 shirt his own during his spell at Canal Street.

He was a regular member of Stan Storton's team, which memorably defeated Wigan Athletic on the final night of the season to bring the NPL championship to Runcorn for the first time.

During this era, the club also won the 1974-75 NPL Challenge Cup, defeating Stafford Rangers in a two-legged final, and appeared in three Cheshire Senior Cup finals, winning the first two - against Macclesfield in 1974 and Altrincham the following year.

The biggest disappointment was the team's failure to reach Wembley after consistently knocking on the door in the FA Trophy.

A full tribute to Steve Hipwell, including details of his 15-club career, will appear in a forthcoming Linnets match day programme. In the meantime, we send our sincere condolences to his family at their very sad loss.

We also offer our deepest sympathies to relatives of Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, who at the time of the air crash had been travelling together to play for Worthing United in a Southern Combination Premier League game against Loxwood.