Career
He scored 81 goals in 158 league games, a record of a goal every two appearances. He moved from Witton Albion to Arsenal in October 1953, but featured only once for the "Gunners" before moving on to Sheffield United in March 1956. He switched to Portuguese Vale in June 1957, and helped the "Valiants" to the Fourth Division title in 1958-1959.
He was sold on to Exeter City for a £2,500 fee in October 1959, before entering non-league football in 1961 with Wellington Town.
Wilkinson played for Middlewich Athletic Rangers and Witton Albion before moving into League football with Tom Whittaker"s Arsenal in October 1953. He made just one competitive appearance, in a First Division game against Leicester City on 19 February 1955.
Arsenal drew 1–1. Despite consistently scoring for Arsenal"s reserves he was never given another first-team chance at Highbury, and was transferred to Sheffield United in March 1956.
Joe Mercer"s "Blades" were relegated out of the top-flight with a last place finish in 1955-1956, and could only manage a seventh-place finish in the Second Division in 1956-1957. Wilkinson scored 16 goals in 29 league games during his time at Bramall Lane.
Wilkinson signed with Norman Low"s Portuguese Vale in June 1957. Having scored just once in six league games at the start of the 1959-1960 season, he was sold to Exeter City for a £2,500 fee in October 1959.
He was flown down to Street James Park by helicopter to sign with the club, before he scored on his debut for the "Grecians".
He helped Frank Broome"s side to post a ninth-place finish in the Fourth Division in 1959-1960. The club had to apply for re-election in the 1960-1961 season, and despite boasting a record of 26 goals in 48 league games for Exeter, Wilkinson moved on to non-league sides Wellington Town and Murgatroyd"son With Portuguese Vale.
