Chris Lightfoot (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Chris Lightfoot was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for four clubs. He later managed in non-league football.
Lightfoot spent much of his career with Chester City
, where he came through the youth ranks to make his debut as a 17-year old on 19 September 1987 in a 1-0 win over Grimsby Town
. He scored his first goal in his next appearance against Walsall
in November 1987 and ended the season with 17 first team appearances to his name. Lightfoot joined fellow youngsters such as Brian Croft
, Robbie Painter
and Colin Woodthorpe
in emerging from the Chester youth set-up to become first-team regulars during this period.
In future seasons Lightfoot was a regular in the Chester side, making more than 30 league appearances in each season until 1993–94
. By this point Lightfoot had been converted by Graham Barrow
from a central defender to an attacking midfielder, reflected in his 14 goals as Chester won promotion from Division Three.
In the summer of 1995 Lightfoot followed Barrow to Wigan Athletic
for a tribunal fee of £87,500. However, by March 1996 he was on the move again when he joined Crewe Alexandra
. In May 1997 Lightfoot appeared as a substitute as Crewe beat Brentford
in the Division Two
play-off final
at Wembley Stadium
, giving Lightfoot his first chance to play in the second tier in English football.
Lightfoot’s final taste of league football came during a loan spell with Oldham Athletic in the early weeks of the 2000–01
season. At the end of the campaign he left Crewe and joined Conference side Morecambe
, where he played for one season. In 2002 he joined Runcorn, who he became manager of in October 2003
.
He was sacked 12 months later
.
After spells with Marine
and Leek Town
, Lightfoot ended his playing days with two appearances for NEWI Cefn Druids
.
Lightfoot spent much of his career with Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, where he came through the youth ranks to make his debut as a 17-year old on 19 September 1987 in a 1-0 win over Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. He scored his first goal in his next appearance against Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in November 1987 and ended the season with 17 first team appearances to his name. Lightfoot joined fellow youngsters such as Brian Croft
Brian Croft
Brian Graham Alexander Croft is a retired English professional footballer who played as a winger. The majority of his Football League appearances were made for his hometown club Chester City in the 1980s and early 1990s.-Playing career:Croft joined Chester as a schoolboy, with his debut coming as...
, Robbie Painter
Robbie Painter
Robbie Painter is a former English professional footballer. He played in The Football League for six clubs between 1987 and 2001, usually as a striker.-Playing career:...
and Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe
Colin Woodthorpe is a veteran English footballer currently serving as assistant manager at Colwyn Bay F.C..-Early career:...
in emerging from the Chester youth set-up to become first-team regulars during this period.
In future seasons Lightfoot was a regular in the Chester side, making more than 30 league appearances in each season until 1993–94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
. By this point Lightfoot had been converted by Graham Barrow
Graham Barrow
Graham Barrow is an English former footballer who has since become a lower division manager. He is currently part of the coaching staff at Premier League side Wigan Athletic, where he has previously been both a player and manager.-Barrow the Player:Barrow first entered the Football League at the...
from a central defender to an attacking midfielder, reflected in his 14 goals as Chester won promotion from Division Three.
In the summer of 1995 Lightfoot followed Barrow to Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
for a tribunal fee of £87,500. However, by March 1996 he was on the move again when he joined Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
. In May 1997 Lightfoot appeared as a substitute as Crewe beat Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
in the Division Two
Division Two
Division Two may refer to either:* Football League Two the current fourth tier of the English football league system* The Football League Second Division, the former second and later third tier of the English football league system...
play-off final
1997 Football League Second Division play-off Final
The 1997 Football League Second Division play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 1997, at the end of the 1996–97 season. It was the 11th play-off final in all at the third level of English football...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, giving Lightfoot his first chance to play in the second tier in English football.
Lightfoot’s final taste of league football came during a loan spell with Oldham Athletic in the early weeks of the 2000–01
2000-01 in English football
The 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
season. At the end of the campaign he left Crewe and joined Conference side Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
, where he played for one season. In 2002 he joined Runcorn, who he became manager of in October 2003
.
He was sacked 12 months later
.
After spells with Marine
Marine F.C.
Marine Football Club is an English football club in Crosby, Merseyside. The club, which was founded in 1894, is a member of both the Liverpool County and Lancashire County Football Associations, and currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.Marine is notable for having the...
and Leek Town
Leek Town F.C.
Leek Town Football Club is an English football club based in Leek, Staffordshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South...
, Lightfoot ended his playing days with two appearances for NEWI Cefn Druids
NEWI Cefn Druids F.C.
Cefn Druids A.F.C. is a football team based in the village of Cefn Mawr, Wrexham, Wales playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1992 from the amalgamation of Cefn Albion F.C. and Druids United F.C. Depending on sponsorship, the club was renamed Flexsys Cefn Druids F.C. in 1998, and...
.