Kevin Pilkington
Encyclopedia
Kevin William Pilkington (born 8 March 1974 in Hitchin
, Hertfordshire
) is an English
footballer who plays a goalkeeper for Luton Town
. Noted for his shot stopping abilities, Pilkington played Premier League football for Manchester United
before dropping down to the Football League
, where he played in nearly 350 games in his time at Mansfield Town
and Notts County
. He has also represented Rochdale
, Rotherham United
, Celtic
, Port Vale
, Aberystwyth Town
and Wigan Athletic
.
, signing as an apprentice on leaving school in 1990 and featuring in their FA Youth Cup
triumph in 1992, after which he signed a professional contract.
He found himself to be the third choice behind Peter Schmeichel
and one of Gary Walsh
, Tony Coton
or Raimond van der Gouw
, and although he was selected as an unused substitute in their two goalless draws with Russia
n side Torpedo Moscow
in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup
, he did not play a first team game until 16 November 1994, when he appeared as a substitute for the injured Peter Schmeichel in a 3–0 win over Crystal Palace
in the Premier League on 16 November 1994. However, manager Alex Ferguson
decided to select Gary Walsh
as goalkeeper for the 10 league games in which Schmeichel was absent, meaning that Pilkington was on the substitutes bench in each of these games, and back in the reserves once Schmeichel returned to fitness and Walsh returned to the bench.
Gary Walsh was sold to Middlesbrough
just before the start of the 1995–96 season, enabling Pilkington to become United's second choice goalkeeper.
Pilkington made the first competitive start of his career in one of the most embarrassing games of United's modern history on 20 September 1995, when as the Premier League's second placed team they were beaten 3–0 at home by Second Division strugglers York City
.
His first league start came on 2 December 1995, when United drew 1–1 with Chelsea
, Dennis Wise
getting the better of Pilkington in the game at Old Trafford
. He played a further two league games that season.
In February 1996 he joined Division Three
side Rochdale
on a six week loan, as the arrival of Tony Coton
had reduced him to third choice goalkeeper after six months as second choice. Coton left for Sunderland
just before the start of the 1996–97 season, but Pilkington's hopes of becoming second choice goalkeeper again were ended by the arrival of 33-year-old Dutchman Raimond van der Gouw
.
He played no part in United's 1996–97 season, instead joining Rotherham United
on a three month loan in January 1997. He played 17 games for the Second Division
club, keeping just two clean sheets in a sub-par team that finished the season seventeen points adrift of safety from relegation
.
Pilkington played two games of United's disappointing 1997–98 campaign. On Boxing Day
he kept goal in a 2–0 defeat of Everton
at Goodison Park
, though two days later he conceded three at Highfield Road
– Coventry City
winning 3–2. He spent two months on loan with Scottish Premier League
giants Celtic
in the run-up to their 1998 title triumph, but he failed to make the field.
on a free transfer in June 1998. Unable to dislodge the veteran Paul Musselwhite
in the 1998–99
season, a young Pilkington played nine Division One games in mid-season, Vale losing all but two of them.
Again forced to play second fiddle in 1999–2000
, he played in sixteen games, keeping three clean sheets. He was at Vale Park
for the end of an era – following John Rudge
's dismissal, he was first choice keeper under Brian Horton
from March onwards, but was released at the end of the season.
, Pilkington joined Second Division
side Wigan Athletic
in early September 2000. After just six days he dropped down to Mansfield Town
in the fourth tier. He played just three games for the Stags that season, before summer signing Michael Bingham from Blackburn Rovers
was recruited as competition for the number 1 jersey.
Promoted to first choice keeper in 2001–02, he played almost fifty games as the club achieved promotion in third place. Early in the season, Pilkington conceded a goal in bizarre circumstances during a League Cup
First Round defeat to Notts County
. Opposition keeper Steve Mildenhall
put a free kick
into Pilkington's net from inside of his own half of the field. In a first half to forget, County's Daniel Allsopp
also scored a 31st minute hat-trick
.
After recovering from a broken
wrist in September, he played 36 games the next season, as Mansfield came straight back down.
Pilkington played a massive 55 competitive games in 2003–04. He kept a clean sheet in the 2004 play-off final
, though Huddersfield Town
won 4–1 on penalties.
In 2004–05, Pilkington was busy once again, keeping goal on 46 occasions. At the end of the campaign he was out of contract. Offered a one year deal, manager Carlton Palmer
was confident of his signature. However, with the new deal paying less than his previous contract, he rejected the offer, despite Palmer being "95% sure" Pilkington would sign. Pilkington instead signed with League Two
rivals Notts County
in June 2005.
, he played 48 games. In a difficult season, the experienced keeper helped the Magpies defence to compensate for their woeful scoring record. A clean sheet kept against Oxford United
on 18 March proved vital as Oxford finished 23rd, three points behind County. Had Pilkington conceded a goal that day then it eventually would have been Notts County who would have lost their Football League
status for the first time in the league's history. He dislocated a shoulder in April, which caused him to miss the last games of the season.
Notts County were a lot more comfortable the following season, Pilkington making 40 appearances, all but one of them in the league. Boss Steve Thompson had some explaining to do when he dropped Pilkington in favour of Saul Deeney
for a brief period in December.
In 2007–08 the club again narrowly avoided relegation into the Conference
, as County finished six points ahead of Pilkington's former club Mansfield Town in 23rd place. He played 35 games and said he was in the best form of his life, when in mid-February he suffered a fractured leg. At the end of the season he signed a new two-year contract.
He started the 2008–09
season as second choice keeper behind Russell Hoult
. Following an injury to Hoult, Pilkington made 26 appearances as his club struggled yet again. The ten points that Notts County finished above 23rd-place Chester City
concealed the fact that, without point deductions for other teams, the Magpies would once again have finished six points above the relegation zone.
After a takeover at County in the summer of 2009, Pilkington found himself out in the cold as third choice goalkeeper behind new signing Kasper Schmeichel
and, once again, Russell Hoult. On 12 November 2009, he signed on a one-month loan for Conference National
side Luton Town
, later extended for a further month on 17 December, acting as cover for the injured Mark Tyler. He returned to Notts County after suffering an injury of his own in a 3–2 loss to Ebbsfleet United on 30 January 2010.
On 10 May 2010, it was announced that he had been released by Notts County along with 7 other players.
season, before losing his place in the team to Mark Tyler. Pilkington joined former club Mansfield Town
on a three-month loan on 28 October 2010. He returned to Luton on 28 January 2011 having made 11 appearances in all competitions for Mansfield. At the end of the season, Pilkington signed a one-year contract extension to stay at Luton until June 2012.
side Ilkeston. He carries out the role in addition to his playing duties with Luton.
|1992–93||Manchester United
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1993–94||Manchester United
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1994–95||Manchester United
||Premier League||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1995–96||Manchester United
||Premier League||3||0||1||0||1||0||5||0
|-
|1995–96||Rochdale
(loan)||Third Division
||6||0||0||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|1996–97||Manchester United
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1996–97||Rotherham United
(loan)||Second Division
||17||0||0||0||0||0||17||0
|-
|1997–98||Manchester United
||Premier League||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|1997–98||Celtic
(loan)||SPL
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1998–99
||Port Vale
||First Division
||8||0||1||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|1999–2000
||Port Vale
||First Division
||15||0||0||0||2||0||17||0
|-
|2000–01||Aberystwyth Town
||League of Wales||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|2000–01||Wigan Athletic
||Second Division
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2000–01||Mansfield Town
||Third Division
||2||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|2001–02||Mansfield Town
||Third Division
||45||0||3||0||1||0||49||0
|-
|2002–03||Mansfield Town
||Second Division
||32||0||2||0||1||0||36||0
|-
|2003–04||Mansfield Town
||Third Division
||49||0||4||0||1||0||55||0
|-
|2004–05||Mansfield Town
||League Two
||42||0||2||0||1||0||46||0
|-
|2005–06||Notts County
||League Two
||45||0||2||0||1||0||48||0
|-
|2006–07||Notts County
||League Two
||39||0||1||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|2007–08||Notts County
||League Two
||32||0||2||0||1||0||35||0
|-
|2008–09
||Notts County
||League Two
||25||0||0||0||1||0||26||0
|-
|2009–10||Luton Town
||Conference National
||8||0||3||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|2010–11
||Luton Town
||Conference National
||3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|2010–11
||Mansfield Town
(loan)||Conference National
||10||0||1||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|2011–12
||Luton Town
||Conference National
||4||0||2||0||0||0||6||0
|-
388||0||24||0||10||0||426||0
1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
389||0||24||0||10||0||427||0
Hitchin
Hitchin is a town in Hertfordshire, England, with an estimated population of 30,360.-History:Hitchin is first noted as the central place of the Hicce people mentioned in a 7th century document, the Tribal Hidage. The tribal name is Brittonic rather than Old English and derives from *siccā, meaning...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who plays a goalkeeper for Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. Noted for his shot stopping abilities, Pilkington played Premier League football for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
before dropping down to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, where he played in nearly 350 games in his time at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
and Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He has also represented Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
Manchester United
Pilkington started his footballing career at Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, signing as an apprentice on leaving school in 1990 and featuring in their FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
triumph in 1992, after which he signed a professional contract.
He found himself to be the third choice behind Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
and one of Gary Walsh
Gary Walsh (English footballer)
Gary Walsh is a retired English footballer who played as goalkeeper with a number of clubs including Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. He became goalkeeping coach at Wigan under manager Paul Jewell before teaming back up with Jewell at Derby County...
, Tony Coton
Tony Coton
Anthony Philip "Tony" Coton is an English former footballer who made 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing as a goalkeeper for Birmingham City, Watford, Manchester City and Sunderland...
or Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw is a former Dutch footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.After a successful career with Vitesse and well into his 30s, he moved to Manchester United, also experiencing relative recognition, although he played very sparingly; he scored his only goal in the last game of his...
, and although he was selected as an unused substitute in their two goalless draws with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n side Torpedo Moscow
FC Torpedo Moscow
FC Torpedo Moscow is an association football club, based in Moscow, Russia. The club was founded in 1930. On March 19, 2009 it was denied membership of the Professional Football League and did not play in the professional competitions in 2009...
in the 1992–93 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, he did not play a first team game until 16 November 1994, when he appeared as a substitute for the injured Peter Schmeichel in a 3–0 win over Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in the Premier League on 16 November 1994. However, manager Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
decided to select Gary Walsh
Gary Walsh
Gary Walsh is a retired English footballer who played as goalkeeper with a number of clubs including Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. He became goalkeeping coach at Wigan under manager Paul Jewell before teaming back up with Jewell at Derby County...
as goalkeeper for the 10 league games in which Schmeichel was absent, meaning that Pilkington was on the substitutes bench in each of these games, and back in the reserves once Schmeichel returned to fitness and Walsh returned to the bench.
Gary Walsh was sold to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
just before the start of the 1995–96 season, enabling Pilkington to become United's second choice goalkeeper.
Pilkington made the first competitive start of his career in one of the most embarrassing games of United's modern history on 20 September 1995, when as the Premier League's second placed team they were beaten 3–0 at home by Second Division strugglers York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
.
His first league start came on 2 December 1995, when United drew 1–1 with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
getting the better of Pilkington in the game at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. He played a further two league games that season.
In February 1996 he joined Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
side Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on a six week loan, as the arrival of Tony Coton
Tony Coton
Anthony Philip "Tony" Coton is an English former footballer who made 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing as a goalkeeper for Birmingham City, Watford, Manchester City and Sunderland...
had reduced him to third choice goalkeeper after six months as second choice. Coton left for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
just before the start of the 1996–97 season, but Pilkington's hopes of becoming second choice goalkeeper again were ended by the arrival of 33-year-old Dutchman Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw is a former Dutch footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.After a successful career with Vitesse and well into his 30s, he moved to Manchester United, also experiencing relative recognition, although he played very sparingly; he scored his only goal in the last game of his...
.
He played no part in United's 1996–97 season, instead joining Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on a three month loan in January 1997. He played 17 games for the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
club, keeping just two clean sheets in a sub-par team that finished the season seventeen points adrift of safety from relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
.
Pilkington played two games of United's disappointing 1997–98 campaign. On Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
he kept goal in a 2–0 defeat of Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, though two days later he conceded three at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
– Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
winning 3–2. He spent two months on loan with Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
giants Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
in the run-up to their 1998 title triumph, but he failed to make the field.
Port Vale
He signed with Port ValePort Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
on a free transfer in June 1998. Unable to dislodge the veteran Paul Musselwhite
Paul Musselwhite
Paul Stephen Musselwhite is an English footballer who plays for York City as a goalkeeper, where he is also the club's Goalkeeping Coach....
in the 1998–99
1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's eighty-seventh season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January, and was replaced by Brian Horton...
season, a young Pilkington played nine Division One games in mid-season, Vale losing all but two of them.
Again forced to play second fiddle in 1999–2000
1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's eighty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and sixth successive season in the First Division. Vale suffered relegation in 23rd place, some thirteen points adrift of safety. They also exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, and were knocked out of the...
, he played in sixteen games, keeping three clean sheets. He was at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
for the end of an era – following John Rudge
John Rudge
John Robert Rudge is an English former football player and football manager. He is currently working as the director of football at Stoke City....
's dismissal, he was first choice keeper under Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
from March onwards, but was released at the end of the season.
Mansfield Town
Following a brief spell with Welsh Premier League Aberystwyth TownAberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
, Pilkington joined Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in early September 2000. After just six days he dropped down to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in the fourth tier. He played just three games for the Stags that season, before summer signing Michael Bingham from Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
was recruited as competition for the number 1 jersey.
Promoted to first choice keeper in 2001–02, he played almost fifty games as the club achieved promotion in third place. Early in the season, Pilkington conceded a goal in bizarre circumstances during a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
First Round defeat to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. Opposition keeper Steve Mildenhall
Steve Mildenhall
Stephen James "Steve" Mildenhall is an English professional football goalkeeper, currently playing for Millwall in the Championship.-Career:...
put a free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
into Pilkington's net from inside of his own half of the field. In a first half to forget, County's Daniel Allsopp
Daniel Allsopp
Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club...
also scored a 31st minute hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
.
After recovering from a broken
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
wrist in September, he played 36 games the next season, as Mansfield came straight back down.
Pilkington played a massive 55 competitive games in 2003–04. He kept a clean sheet in the 2004 play-off final
2004 Football League Third Division play-off Final
-External links:*...
, though Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
won 4–1 on penalties.
In 2004–05, Pilkington was busy once again, keeping goal on 46 occasions. At the end of the campaign he was out of contract. Offered a one year deal, manager Carlton Palmer
Carlton Palmer
Carlton Lloyd Palmer is a former English professional football player who played as a midfielder, most notably for Sheffield Wednesday.-Playing career:...
was confident of his signature. However, with the new deal paying less than his previous contract, he rejected the offer, despite Palmer being "95% sure" Pilkington would sign. Pilkington instead signed with League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
rivals Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in June 2005.
Notts County
In his first season at Meadow LaneMeadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
, he played 48 games. In a difficult season, the experienced keeper helped the Magpies defence to compensate for their woeful scoring record. A clean sheet kept against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
on 18 March proved vital as Oxford finished 23rd, three points behind County. Had Pilkington conceded a goal that day then it eventually would have been Notts County who would have lost their Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
status for the first time in the league's history. He dislocated a shoulder in April, which caused him to miss the last games of the season.
Notts County were a lot more comfortable the following season, Pilkington making 40 appearances, all but one of them in the league. Boss Steve Thompson had some explaining to do when he dropped Pilkington in favour of Saul Deeney
Saul Deeney
Saul Deeney is a footballer who plays for Derby County as a goalkeeper. He has previously represented the Republic of Ireland at Youth and under-21 level.-Club career:...
for a brief period in December.
In 2007–08 the club again narrowly avoided relegation into the Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
, as County finished six points ahead of Pilkington's former club Mansfield Town in 23rd place. He played 35 games and said he was in the best form of his life, when in mid-February he suffered a fractured leg. At the end of the season he signed a new two-year contract.
He started the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season as second choice keeper behind Russell Hoult
Russell Hoult
Russell Hoult is an English footballer. He is a goalkeeper and is currently player/assistant manager/goalkeeping coach for Hereford United.-Playing career:...
. Following an injury to Hoult, Pilkington made 26 appearances as his club struggled yet again. The ten points that Notts County finished above 23rd-place Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
concealed the fact that, without point deductions for other teams, the Magpies would once again have finished six points above the relegation zone.
After a takeover at County in the summer of 2009, Pilkington found himself out in the cold as third choice goalkeeper behind new signing Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Schmeichel
Kasper Peter Schmeichel is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, and son of Peter Schmeichel. He plays in the Npower Championship for Leicester City. He played 17 games for the Denmark under-21 national team...
and, once again, Russell Hoult. On 12 November 2009, he signed on a one-month loan for Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, later extended for a further month on 17 December, acting as cover for the injured Mark Tyler. He returned to Notts County after suffering an injury of his own in a 3–2 loss to Ebbsfleet United on 30 January 2010.
On 10 May 2010, it was announced that he had been released by Notts County along with 7 other players.
Luton Town
Ten days later, Pilkington signed for his previous loan club Luton Town on a permanent one-year contract. He made two starts at the beginning of the 2010–112010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season, before losing his place in the team to Mark Tyler. Pilkington joined former club Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on a three-month loan on 28 October 2010. He returned to Luton on 28 January 2011 having made 11 appearances in all competitions for Mansfield. At the end of the season, Pilkington signed a one-year contract extension to stay at Luton until June 2012.
Coaching
On 16 September 2011, Pilkington was appointed goalkeeping coach of Northern Premier League Division One SouthNorthern Premier League Division One South
Division One South is one of the two second-tier divisions of the Northern Premier League. It is at Step 4 of the National League System, placing it seven divisions below the Premier League...
side Ilkeston. He carries out the role in addition to his playing duties with Luton.
Statistics
|-|1992–93||Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1993–94||Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1994–95||Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||Premier League||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1995–96||Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||Premier League||3||0||1||0||1||0||5||0
|-
|1995–96||Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
(loan)||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||6||0||0||0||0||0||6||0
|-
|1996–97||Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1996–97||Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
(loan)||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||17||0||0||0||0||0||17||0
|-
|1997–98||Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||Premier League||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|1997–98||Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
(loan)||SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|1998–99
1998–99 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1998–99 season was Port Vale's eighty-seventh season of football in the Football League, and fifth successive season in the First Division. It was the end of an era for the club, as manager of sixteen years John Rudge was sacked in January, and was replaced by Brian Horton...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||8||0||1||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|1999–2000
1999–2000 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1999–2000 season was Port Vale's eighty-eighth season of football in the Football League, and sixth successive season in the First Division. Vale suffered relegation in 23rd place, some thirteen points adrift of safety. They also exited the FA Cup at the Third Round, and were knocked out of the...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||15||0||0||0||2||0||17||0
|-
|2000–01||Aberystwyth Town
Aberystwyth Town F.C.
Aberystwyth Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Welsh Premier League.The club was founded in 1884, and plays at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth, where their ground accommodates 5,000 spectators with 1,002 of that capacity seated....
||League of Wales||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|2000–01||Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2000–01||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||2||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|2001–02||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||45||0||3||0||1||0||49||0
|-
|2002–03||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||32||0||2||0||1||0||36||0
|-
|2003–04||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||49||0||4||0||1||0||55||0
|-
|2004–05||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||42||0||2||0||1||0||46||0
|-
|2005–06||Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||45||0||2||0||1||0||48||0
|-
|2006–07||Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||39||0||1||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|2007–08||Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||32||0||2||0||1||0||35||0
|-
|2008–09
2008–09 Notts County F.C. season
Notts County are the oldest club in the Football League. The 2008-09 season was their 12th year in The Football League.-League Two:Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points-Results summary:-FA...
||Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||25||0||0||0||1||0||26||0
|-
|2009–10||Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||8||0||3||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Luton Town F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was the 125th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club.The club finished the season in 3rd place, 21 points behind runaway league winners Crawley Town and 6 points behind second placed AFC Wimbledon. This meant Luton would contest promotion to The Football League...
||Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Mansfield Town F.C. season
The 2010–2011 Season of Mansfield Town F.C. was its third in the Conference National, following their relegation after the 2007–08 season. The season saw a protracted financial dispute between the club and their former owner, Keith Haslam, who had sold the club in 2008 but retained ownership of the...
||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
(loan)||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||10||0||1||0||0||0||11||0
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Luton Town F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is the 126th season in the history of Luton Town Football Club. Their third-place finish and subsequent penalty shoot-out loss to AFC Wimbledon in the Conference National play-off final in 2010–11 means they will be competing in non-league football for the third consecutive...
||Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||4||0||2||0||0||0||6||0
|-
388||0||24||0||10||0||426||0
1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
389||0||24||0||10||0||427||0
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
statistics included in totals column.
Honours
with Mansfield Town- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
third-place promotion winner: 2001–02