Both Norwich City and Huddersfield Town can thank Stockport County gamble.
Anthony Pilkington went on to have a strong career after Stockport County’s initial gamble
A few talented non-league players, such as Anthony Pilkington and Jamie Vardy, have successfully transferred to the Premier League and EFL. Along the way, Pilkington demonstrated his talent as his career advanced from Stockport County to Huddersfield Town and Norwich City. Pilkington had a decent English football career despite setbacks and injuries, retiring in 2022 at Fleetwood Town.
Numerous instances exist where clubs acquire a non-league talent who goes on to have a successful career in the EFL and possibly the Premier League.
Jamie Vardy is the most notable example of this, as his 2012 transfer from Fleetwood Town to Leicester City helped him establish himself as one of the team’s most iconic players.
This legacy has continued throughout the Foxes’ championship-winning campaign. But Stockport County’s 2008 risk will also be remembered favorably by Huddersfield Town and Norwich City in particular, as it made Anthony Pilkington’s journey to the top of English football possible.
Pilkington’s journey began in December 2006 when, at just 18 years old, he showed great promise playing for Atherton Collieries. His outstanding performance, including a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over FC United of Manchester in the North West Counties League, caught the attention of Jim Gannon, the manager of Stockport County at the time.
Initially signing a six-month contract, Pilkington quickly made an impact, scoring three goals in his first four appearances. Although County narrowly missed out on the playoffs that season, Pilkington’s contribution was evident with a total of five goals.
The following season was even more successful, culminating in Stockport’s 3-2 victory over Rochdale at Wembley, where Pilkington stood out, earning the Man of the Match award with a goal and an assist. His impressive season included eight goals in 37 appearances across all competitions, leading to a well-deserved new contract in March 2008.
Following his successful transition to League One, Pilkington caught the eye of Huddersfield, who made a significant investment of £750,000 in signings during the 2008/09 season, securing Pilkington on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
In his debut half-season under Lee Clark’s management, Pilkington made 16 appearances for Huddersfield. The following season, he played a crucial role, featuring in nearly every league match out of 46 and contributing to 17 goals. Unfortunately, Huddersfield’s playoff journey ended in disappointment against Millwall in the semi-finals.
Despite a severe injury in March 2011, where he dislocated his left ankle and broke his fibula, Pilkington continued to excel, achieving 14 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions in his final season at what was then known as the Galpharm Stadium.
Despite his impressive performances, Huddersfield’s playoff setbacks continued, leading to Pilkington expressing his desire to leave the club after a 3-0 defeat to Peterborough United at Old Trafford.
Anthony Pilkington’s career since departing Norwich City
After departing from Carrow Road, Pilkington maintained a successful career in the EFL and had a brief stint playing for East Bengal FC in India. In 2014, he signed a £2 million agreement to leave Norwich for Cardiff City.
During his four seasons in South Wales, he scored 23 goals in 111 games altogether, playing a little role in their return to the Premier League under Neil Warnock. After that, he moved back to the North West and signed a free transfer with Wigan Athletic in 2018, albeit he only played 26 games in those two years.
The former Blackburn Rovers academy product will conclude his career at Fleetwood Town following his previously announced time in India, and he would retire in October 2022 at the age of 34.
His figures make it very evident who profited most from Stockport’s original gamble many years ago: Huddersfield and Norwich.