 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.