 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.