Chester FC have announced the signing of Oldham Athletic winger Ben Tollitt on a loan deal until the end of the 2023/2024 season, according to club’s official website.
Tollitt signed for Oldham in July 2022 and has since made 41 appearances for the Latics scoring eight goals in that time. The winger has already been on loan with National League strugglers Kidderminster Harriers this season and will now be playing his football at the Leap76 stadium for the remainder of this season.
Following the announcement, Chester manager Calum McIntyre spoke about his new man saying: “Ben will give us a real attacking threat being able to play in a number of forward/attacking midfield positions with proven quality at a higher level. It is exactly the kind of signing we want to make as we approach the business end of the season.”
Tollitt has made 11 appearances this season for Oldham Athletic and Kidderminster Harriers scoring a single goal. The winger has struggled for minutes in the National League this season for Oldham under the regime of Micky Mellon and has only made one appearance since the experienced Scotsman took charge, coming off the bench in a 3-0 defeat to AFC Fylde.
The 29-year-old will be keen to be playing consistent first-team football and joins a Chester side who are currently pushing for a return to the National League for the first time since their relegation in the 2018/2019 season. The Seals are currently sustaining a strong play-off charge as they currently sit in 5th place and are unbeaten in their last 5 games. Tollitt is in contention to make his debut this Saturday with Chester hosting fellow play-off contenders Scarborough Athletic who currently sit third and two points ahead of Chester.
What will Ben Tollitt bring to Chester FC?
The signing of Ben Tollitt will certainly provide Chester with a significant amount of attacking quality. Tollitt is a tricky winger who is very direct and loves to dribble at defenders with intent and he is very capable of causing opposing defenders a real problem. He also brings a wealth of experience with him, having played for sides such as Portsmouth, Tranmere Rovers, Blackpool and cross-border rivals Wrexham however, inconsistent levels of game time often caused by injury problems have meant Tollitt has struggled in recent times to kick on. If Calum McIntyre can bring the 29-year-old back to his best then Chester could have a player with a huge amount of quality for the level and someone who certainly possesses the ability to help push Chester to promotion.
Writer’s View
Ben Tollitt is a huge example of a ‘what if’ player in my opinion. Adored during his time at Tranmere, it looked like the sky was the limit for the Liverpool-born winger. Unfortunately, a lengthy time on the sidelines due to horrible luck with injuries has undoubtedly stifled Tollitt’s career. Someone who I believe still has enough quality to be a great player at the National League level, it will be very interesting to see if Tollitt can return to his previous form as he will have a significant role to play in Chester’s promotion push if he can kick on.