Vastly experienced goalkeeper Chris Cheetham has been signed as a replacement for the popular Mike Hale, who has left the Vics due to increased work commitments.

Cheetham appeared in the Vanarama National League with Southport following a lengthy spell between the sticks at Radcliffe Borough.

He is a product of Everton’s youth academy, having also completed a scholarship at Bradford City.

He also has experience further up the league pyramid with Lancaster City.

He signed for Atherton Collieries in 2018 and helped them to win the Northern Premier Division One West title.

He moved to NWCL side Ashton Town and then Northern Premier outfit Ashton United in September 2020 on dual registration.

The Vics have also brought full-back Jack Fleming back to the club.

Fleming (pictured) started his career with Tranmere Rovers and progressed through to become a regular in the under-18s before being released in the summer of 2017 when he signed for NPL Division One North West outfit Runcorn Linnets.

Spells with AFC Liverpool and Skelmersdale United followed before he first joined Vics in January 2018, making his debut in a 3-2 win against 1874 Northwich and also starring in the Buildbase FA Vase Semi-Final run of that season.

He made 31 appearances, scoring one goal in the process for Vics before leaving the club in September 2019 and moving across to fellow North West Counties club Burscough.

He started this season at Cymru Premier side. Caernarfon Town.