Former Wigan Athletic star drops down into National League North with Fylde

The 30-year-old, who was released over the summer by League Two side Chesterfield, becomes the club's 12th signing since the end of last term.

"I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get going," he said. “I’d like to think my experience will help the group, and I want to help continue the promising start we’ve made to the season.

“I’m probably seen as an old-fashioned winger who likes to take people on, but I love scoring goals and I’ll be looking to do that as much as possible here at Fylde.”

Colclough joined Latics in January 2016, helping Gary Caldwell's side go on to win the League One title.

After two-and-a-half years with Latics, he left for Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2018.

"To have someone of Ryan's calibre at the club shows a real sense of ambition," said Fylde boss Craig Mahon, who used to work at the Wigan Athletic Community Trust, and is the nephew of Latics legend Alan.

“His quality and experience will be a great asset to the squad, and we're excited to work with him."

AFC Fylde chairman David Haythornthwaite added: "It goes without saying that Ryan is a massive signing for a club at our level.

"We have had to be patient, but eventually we got our man, and I hope all of our fans will be as excited as we are to watch him feature for AFC Fylde this season."

Stoke-born Colclough joined Latics from his boyhood club Crewe Alexandra.

He scored eight times in 56 appearances – either side of a loan spell at MK Dons – before moving on to Scunthorpe United, Altrincham and Paul Cook’s Chesterfield.

Colclough made worldwide headlines during his time at Wigan for scoring two goals in the win over Doncaster Rovers in November 2017.

However, his hopes of a hat-trick were thwarted when he had to be substituted in the second half, before making a dash to Warrington Hospital to be with partner, Steph, for the birth of their son, Harley.