One of the key areas for Chris Willcock to address during the offseason was experience and leadership, he certainly has secured that in the form of 38-year-old Chris Dagnall.

Having made over 600 senior appearances and scoring over 150 goals since starting his career at Tranmere Rovers in 2003, Chris is exactly the type of player Dolly Blues fans will enjoy seeing plying his trade in Lancaster.

After progressing through the youth ranks at Tranmere following his debut at age 17, he played 44 first-team games for the club, including 39 games in League One and scoring seven goals in the process. A move to Rochdale followed where Dagnall scored 54 goals in 156 games across a four-year spell, including a prolific 20 goals in 45 games during the 2009/10 season. His form that year earned him a move to Scunthorpe United in the Championship, where he contributed five goals in 37 games and a further four the next season in League One. He returned to the Championship with Barnsley, where he scored 11 goals in 61 games over three years at Oakwell.

In 2013, he joined Leyton Orient and netted 17 goals in League One before a trip abroad to Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League. A brief spell north of the border at Hibernian followed where Chris won the 2015/16 Scottish Cup, the Hibees overcoming Rangers at Hampden Park.

He returned to England and scored 21 goals for Crewe before spells with Bury and Yeovil Town, with a return to Tranmere coming in 2018. After departing Yeovil in the summer of 2021, he helped Hanley Town win the 2021/22 Midland League, scoring 17 goals and then spent time with Stalybridge Celtic in the NPL.

Traditionally a forward during his career, he will fulfil a midfield role at the Giant Axe as Chris Willcock builds a strong spine to his side with Dagnall expected to partner the likes of Christian Sloan and Jamie Mellen in the centre of the park.