Former Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda signs for non-League Ashton Town

He was once just a penalty shoot-out away from winning the World Cup but now Pascal Chimbonda is preparing for life in the 10th tier of English football.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan defender has signed for Ashton Town of the North West Counties League Division One North.

39-year-old Chimbonda shows no desire to hang up his boots just yet and is set to be thrown straight into the action when Ashton host Bacup Borough at their Edge Green Street ground this Saturday.

It won't be Chimbonda's first taste of non-league football, however, as the Frenchman has previously turned out for Market Drayton Town and Washington during the twilight of his career.

Though Chimbonda only won one international cap for France, he was selected in their 2006 World Cup squad. France reached the final, only to lose on penalties to Italy following Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt.

He has previously played for Ashton in a charity match last year and jumped at the chance to sign initially for a month.

Ashton's last game, a 2-1 win over Holker Old Boys, was played in front of just 36 spectators. No doubt Chimbonda's signing will boost these numbers substantially.

They are currently 15th of 20 teams in the division, but 15 points above the relegation places.

Club chairman Mark Hayes told Wigan Today: 'I first met Pascal when he came over last May to play in my annual Joseph's Goal Legends game.

'And he did not hesitate to sign when asked to help promote this year's game and to strengthen our team, signing on initially for one month.

'His signing comes at a pefect time as our squad is just settling after getting used to North West Counties football again following our one season in the Cheshire League.

'It's a huge boost for the club, and one that I hope Wigan Athletic fans will come and support.'

Ashton manager Dave Dempsey said: 'To have a player with the experience and knowledge from the top level of English football is a dream come true.

'We are all extremely excited to have Pascal join our group, and we are sure he will give the players and the club alike a sense of excitement in the coming weeks.

'We can only thank our chairman for getting this one over the door for us.'

Chimbonda arrived in English football in 2005 and excelled during Wigan's first season in the Premier League, earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year and helping the team to the League Cup final.

That resulted in a £4.5million move to Tottenham in 2006 where he played for two seasons before joining Sunderland in 2008.

He then rejoined Spurs in January 2009 but his return was a short-lived affair as he signed for Blackburn later that year.

Chimbonda also played for Queens Park Rangers before dropping down the divisions.