Chester FC have signed midfielder Gary Stopforth on a one-year deal from Colne FC.

The 31-year-old will link up with Blues joint-managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley for a third time, having previously played under the duo at Ramsbottom United and Salford City.

The experienced midfielder began last season with Chester’s National League North rivals Stockport County, but made the switch to his hometown club Colne in March, and had looked set to remain with the club for the 2018/19 campaign.

However, the pull of the former Football League club prove too strong, as did the chance to play under Johnson and Morley once more.

Johnson expressed his satisfaction at getting the deal over the line, and can’t wait to see Stopforth and fellow new signing Scott Burton link-up once more in midfield, along with Blues favourite Gary Roberts, who has penned a one-year contract extension with the club.

“Gary Stopforth and Scott have played together in midfield for the past three or four years now and they’ve won countless promotions,” he said.

“Gary is a box-to-box midfielder, it’ll make you laugh how much he loves to run around! He has boundless energy out on the pitch, he’ll be a fantastic addition.

“That midfield trio of Scott, Gary Roberts and Gary Stopforth will be hard to beat. They are vastly experience and have played a lot games at this level. They have the drive to win matches, that desire you need and that is something that was needed at Chester.

“They have the work-rate, endeavour and desire we look for and between them we think they have standout attributes.”