Career
Barnsley
Wilkes started his career with his hometown club Barnsley, but injury plagued his career there and he only made 17 appearances for them between 1981 and 1984, he also scored 2 goals in this time. Wilkes was sent out on loan in March 1983 to Halifax Town, he made 4 appearances before returning at the end of March. Hong Kong
Wilkes moved to Hong Kong in 1984 to play for Harps he stayed there from 1984 until 1986, the total of his appearances and goals is unknown.
He transferred to Stockport County in 1986.
Stockport county and non-league career
Wilkes only made 8 appearances for Stockport as injury plagued him once again in 1987, he left for non-league football. Wilkes had spells at Bridlington and Frickley between 1987 and 1990, his appearances and goals totals are unknown.
Carlisle United
After retiring in 1992, Wilkes joined Carlisle United as Youth Development Officer and then in 1995, under Mick Wadsworth, he stepped up to a senior coaching role, he also was caretaker manager when Mervyn Day left the club, in 1997. = Michael Knighton period In 1997, then-Carlisle United chairman Michael Knighton refused to look for a new manager after Mervyn Day"s departure, so he took over team selection and coaching.
He was helped by John Halpin and Wilkes himself, who were both directors of coaching.
During Carlisle"s good spells Wilkes and Halpin were to take back seats and not to claim any cr but when things were going bad they were placed in the firing line by Knighton and endured criticism which they didn"t really deserve. Newcastle United
Huddersfield Town
On 9 July 2002, Wilkes joined Mick Wadsworth at Huddersfield Town as First Team Coach. After a bad run of games in January 2003, Wadsworth was sacked but the club couldn"t pay him out so he was reinstated but was sacked again in March 2003, although Wilkes stayed as First Team Coach under Caretaker-Manager Mel Machin he left in May 2003, along with Machin and goalkeeping-coach Dave Watson, when Huddersfield were placed into administration.
Carlisle United, Again
Wilkes re-joined sometime in 2005 as Centre of Excellence Head.
As of 2009 he is still Head of the Centre of Excellence.