Career
He later managed in non-league football. 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 1993-1994.
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 2000-2001 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.
With Crewe Alexandra.
