Winger Anthony Pilkington signed for Norwich from Huddersfield on 6th July 2011 for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be around £2million, with the Canaries seeing off interest from Wolves and Stoke.

Born in Blackburn, Pilkington spent time with the youth systems of Preston North End, Manchester United and home town club Blackburn Rovers. Pilkington joined Stockport County on 15th December 2006, from Atherton Collieries, where he made his name scoring a hat-trick against F.C. United of Manchester and signed initially on a short term contract at Edgeley Park. Pilkington then played a big part in County's record breaking run of results during January and February 2007. Pilkington continued to help Stockport's push for the playoffs by scoring a further two goals in a season which saw County miss out on the play-offs only on goal-difference

On 23rd January 2009, he was signed by fellow League One side Huddersfield Town on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He had made 80 appearances for County, scoring 17 times. He made his Terriers debut in the 1–0 defeat by Yeovil Town at Huish Park on 27th January 2009

On 30th June 2011, the club announced that Pilkington had declared his intention to leave following their failure to win promotion from League One. He had made 92 appearances for Huddersfield, scoring 19 goals.

Anthony has one Under-21 cap for the Republic of Ireland.

Pilkingon's brother Danny is a professional footballer who was with Stockport. Other brother Karl is a TV and radio personality who has worked with Ricky Gervais and had his own TV show "An Idiot Abroad"

Pilkington made his Norwich debut as a 75th minute substitute in the opening day of the season clash at Wigan (13th August 2011) which Norwich drew 1-1. His first start came the following week (21st August) in the 1-1 home draw with Stoke. He scored his first Norwich goal in the 2-1 away win at Bolton on 17th September 2011 (City's first Premier League away win since 1994)

Impressive form in Norwich's opening start to the 2011/12 premier League season saw Pilkington linked with a call-up to the Irish squad, with Irish coach Marco Tardelli revealing that that Norwich City trio Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and Marc Tierney are firmly on his international radar ahead of the Euro 2012 finals. The former World Cup winner, who was at Carrow Road to see the Canaries take on Arsenal, admitted he and Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni were weighing up all their options with regards to their final 23-man Euro2012 squad. Press speculation also linked him with a £5million move to Liverpool.

Pilkington finished the 2011/12 season with 32 appearances and eight goals as Norwich finished 12th in the Premier League

Pilkington was called up to the Irish squad in January 2013.

At the end of April 2013, he was linked with a multi-million pound switch to Stoke.

Pilkington made his Irish debut on 6th September 2013, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Sweden in a World Cup qualifier. Norwich teammate Johan Elmander scored one of the Swedish goals.

In late January 2014, Pilkington was reportedly the subject of a £3million bid from Swansea City.

He made 17 appearances, scoring twice in the 2013/14 season in which Norwich were relegated from the Premier League.

Pilkington moved to Cardiff City for a fee rumoured to be between £1.25m and £2m on 14th August 2014, following suggestions of a falling out with manager Neil Adams.

In January 2016, he was linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers now managed by Paul Lambert.

Pilkington played 13 games in 2017/18 as Cardiff finished second in the Championship and won promotion to the Premier League.

In January 2019, he was linked with a loan move to Ipswich to link again with Paul Lambert but instead chose to return to his native North West, signing for Wigan on 10th January 2019 on an 18 month contract. He made 111 appearances in all competitions for Cardiff, scoring 23 goals.

He departed Wigan on 23d July 2020. He had played 26 games for Wigan, scoring four goals.

On 9th October 2020 reports from India said that he had signed for the India Soccer League's newest club East Benghal. This was completed on 17th October 2020. They are based in Klokata (also known as Calcutta) and were fomred in 1920. Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has just signed a two year deal to coach the Indian Super League side and Pilkington is one of his first signings.

After three goals in 17 appearances for East Benghal, Pilkington returned to his native north-west on 17th July 2021 signing a one year contract with Fleetwood.

He was released by Fleetwood at the end of the 2021/22 season having made 28 appearances and scoring four goals.