It's the summer of 2006 and Jonathan Walters is about to make a decision which will completely transform his faltering career, one which will see him go from the fourth tier of English football to playing in the Premier League and at major international tournaments within the space of just a few years.

Out of contract with Wrexham, the striker has been offered a new deal by the Dragons following a debut season which saw him finish with a modest haul of five goals from 38 games.

Aged 22, he is already in danger of becoming a journeyman having been on the books of no fewer than six different clubs (Blackburn, Bolton, Hull, Barnsley, Scunthorpe and Wrexham) on a tumble down the divisions.

The Dragons are in administration and can only offer their players one-year deals - so neighbours Chester City sense an opportunity.

The Blues offer Walters a two-year contract and, on June 21, 2006, he signs on the dotted line for Mark Wright's men, on the same day as left-back Kevin Sandwith and the same week as another ex-Dragon, Dean Bennett.

None of the trio were hailed as star captures at the time - but the signing of Walters would prove to be a masterstroke.

He hasn't looked back since.

"I will make runs and put in loads of hard work," Walters promised Blues fans, hardly a vow to set the pulses racing. But the Birkenhead-born forward took that hard work to another level during his time at the Deva, while adding another key ingredient - goals - to his game.

Read: Walters sends Ireland to Euro 2016

It was almost as if he knew this was his last chance to realise the potential he had shown in his teenage years. The penny had dropped. He thrived under Wright's management and, by December, assistant boss Graham Barrow - always a fine judge of a player and never one prone to exaggeration - knew the Blues had something special on their hands.

"I think he's a dream of a player to play with. He gives you everything," said Barrow after Walters had bagged his ninth goal of the campaign in a 2-0 win at Peterborough United.

Chester fans had never seen such an industrious striker. There was no such thing as a lost cause with Walters. And the fact he was scoring regularly for the first time in his career was starting to alert bigger clubs.

A twist of fate in the FA Cup would lead to his departure.

Chester were knocked out by Bury in December but the the Shakers were found to have fielded an ineligible player in the tie, so the Blues were reinstated to the competition. They took on Ipswich Town in the third round in January and, despite losing in a replay at Portman Road, Walters was the standout player in both games.

Ipswich boss Jim Magilton made his move, signing Walters for a bargain £100,000, although the final fee would rise to £200,000 on the strength of the player's performances for the Tractor Boys.

Chester's Jon Walters holds of the challenge of Ipswich's Dan Harding
Chester's Jon Walters holds of the challenge of Ipswich's Dan Harding

Chester had lost their talisman - they also waved goodbye to Gregg Blundell and Roberto Martinez early in 2007, the catalyst for a major slump in form - but Blues fans will always retain fond memories of Walters.

He'd go on to captain the Tractor Boys before sealing a £2.75m move to Premier League side Stoke City in 2010. In the same year, he won his first caps for the Republic of Ireland (he qualified through his Irish-born mother) and came on as a sub in each of their three group games at Euro 2012.

Having bagged the two goals which sent Ireland to Euro 2016 on Monday night, securing him national hero status, Walters is heading for his second major international tournament - one which will take place on the 10th anniversary of him signing for Chester.

Blues fans everywhere will follow his progress in France with pride.