Port Vale sign Cheltenham striker Justin Richards

Justin Richards has spent much of his career in non-league football

Port Vale have signed striker Justin Richards on a free transfer from fellow League Two side Cheltenham Town.

The 29-year-old scored 15 goals in 47 games for the Robins last season.

"He is a player we have looked at a number of times and I believe he will add something for us," Vale manager Micky Adams told the club website.

"We will have a tough pre-season and I am sure that Justin will want to make his mark on the squad at the earliest possible opportunity."

Richards, who has signed a two-year contract at Vale Park, began his career as a trainee at West Bromwich Albion.

After an unsuccessful two-year period at Bristol Rovers, he moved into non-league football, enjoying prolific spells at Stevenage, Woking and Kidderminster before joining Cheltenham at the beginning of the 2009/10 season.

Richards becomes Micky Adams' third signing of the summer, following the arrivals of striker Sean Rigg and goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson.

Seven out-of-contract players, including top scorer Marc Richards and player of the year Anthony Griffith, have all agreed new deals with Vale since the end of the season.