Tony Dinning

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Tony Dinning

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Tony Dinning{{Hugman|5163|accessdate=9 March 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|4|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Wallsend, England

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}{{cite web |title=FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2005/06 |url=http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2005-2006/flone/portv.htm |website=footballsquads.co.uk |accessdate=24 June 2019}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Wallsend Boys Club

| youthyears2 = 1993–1994| youthclubs2 = Newcastle United

| years1 = 1993 | clubs1 = → Djurgårdens IF (loan) | caps1 = 2| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1994–2000| clubs2 = Stockport County | caps2 = 191| goals2 = 25

| years3 = 2000–2001| clubs3 = Wolverhampton Wanderers| caps3 = 35| goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2001 | clubs4 = → Wigan Athletic (loan) | caps4 = 1| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2001–2004| clubs5 = Wigan Athletic | caps5 = 83| goals5 = 12

| years6 = 2002 | clubs6 = → Stoke City (loan) | caps6 = 5| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2003 | clubs7 = → Walsall (loan) | caps7 = 7| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2004 | clubs8 = → Blackpool (loan) | caps8 = 10| goals8 = 3

| years9 = 2004 | clubs9 = → Ipswich Town (loan) | caps9 = 7| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2004 | clubs10 = → Bristol City (loan) | caps10= 5| goals10= 0

| years11 = 2004–2005| clubs11 = Bristol City | caps11= 14| goals11= 0

| years12 = 2005 | clubs12 = → Port Vale (loan) | caps12= 7| goals12= 3

| years13 = 2005–2006| clubs13 = Port Vale | caps13= 35| goals13= 2

| years14 = 2006–2007| clubs14 = Stockport County | caps14= 32| goals14= 2

| years15 = 2007–2009| clubs15 = Chester City | caps15= 24| goals15= 2

| years16 = 2009 | clubs16 = → Grays Athletic (loan) | caps16= | goals16=

| years17 = 2009 | clubs17 = → Gateshead (loan) | caps17= | goals17=

| years18 = 2009 | clubs18 = Hednesford Town | caps18= 6| goals18= 1

| years19 = 2009–2010| clubs19 = Stafford Rangers | caps19= | goals19=

| years20 = 2010–2011| clubs20 = Bridgnorth Town | caps20= | goals20=

| totalcaps = 462| totalgoals = 56

}}

Tony Dinning (born 12 April 1975) is an English former football midfielder who spent 16 years of an 18-year career in the Football League, making 515 appearances in league and cup competitions.

A former Newcastle United trainee, he made his name at Stockport County between 1994 and 2000, helping the club to win promotion, he played 219 games in league and cup. Following a £700,000 move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, he was sold to Wigan Athletic for £750,000 in 2001. Helping Wigan to promotion, he also enjoyed loan spells out to Stoke City (who he also helped to win promotion), Walsall, Blackpool, and Ipswich Town, before he signed with Bristol City in 2004. He moved on to Port Vale the following year, taking up the captain's armband. He returned to Stockport for one season before signing with Chester City in 2007. In 2009, he was loaned out to Grays Athletic and Gateshead before dropping out of the Football League permanently after signing with Stafford Rangers via Hednesford Town. He retired in 2011 after a spell with Bridgnorth Town.

Career

=Early career and Stockport County=

Dinning began his career at Newcastle United in 1993 after coming through Wallsend Boys Club. During his time at the club, he was loaned out to the Swedish team Djurgården in a player exchange program, where his first game ended in him producing an own goal. Dinning failed to make an appearance for Newcastle before being released. He joined Stockport County after his release in June 1994. He played twenty league games in County's Second Division promotion-winning 1996–97 campaign. County also reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, where he was sent off in a defeat to Middlesbrough.{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Paul |title=Former Wolves man Tony Dinning on still getting goosebumps at the sight of Molineux |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2023/03/09/former-wolves-man-tony-dinning-on-still-getting-goosebumps-at-the-sight-of-molineux/ |access-date=20 June 2024 |work=Shropshire Star |date=9 March 2023 |language=en}} He cemented his place in the Edgeley Park first XI throughout their subsequent First Division campaigns, culminating in him picking up the Player of the Season award for the 1999–2000 season,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/795194.stm|title=County fail to shine|date=29 June 2000|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} in what turned out to be his final season with the club. On 7 December 1999, he scored a penalty kick to secure Stockport their first win over Manchester City at Maine Road. He played 219 games for the club and scored 28 goals, 13 of which came in the 1999–2000 season.

=Wolverhampton Wanderers=

In September 2000, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £700,000.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/935624.stm|title=Dinning moves to Molineux|date=21 September 2000|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} However, the 2000–01 season was not a success and manager Colin Lee was sacked in December. Dinning remained at Molineux for less than a year; ironically, it was his former Stockport manager Dave Jones who decided he had no future at Wolves and sold him to Paul Jewell's Wigan Athletic for £750,000.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/1531162.stm|title=Dinning makes Wigan move|date=10 September 2001|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7911202.stm|title=Dinning leaves Chester for Grays |date=25 February 2009|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}}

=Wigan Athletic=

Finding his form at Wigan, he was still soon loaned out to fellow Second Division side Stoke City for the closing months of the 2001–02 campaign,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/1898069.stm|title=Stoke sign Dinning|date=28 March 2002|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} where he played in their play-off final triumph over Brentford. He returned to his parent club the following season, and played 44 games, helping them to win promotion as champions. However, he found himself out of favour in Wigan's subsequent second tier seasons, leading to loan spells at Walsall,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/3284411.stm|title=Dinning joins Saddlers|date=19 November 2003|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} Blackpool (who he captained{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4841482.stm|title=Penalty miss loses man £1m payout |date=24 March 2006|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=4 July 2011}}),{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/3425633.stm|title=Blackpool get Dinning|date=24 January 2004|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} Ipswich Town,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/3708440.stm|title=Dinning ends loan stay at Ipswich |date=1 October 2004|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} and finally, Bristol City,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/3548962.stm|title=Dinning in Ipswich switch|date=9 August 2004|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} whom he eventually joined on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_city/4030103.stm|title=Dinning seals Bristol City switch |date=6 December 2004|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} At Blackpool he started the final as Blackpool won the 2003–04 Football League Trophy with a 2–0 victory over Southend United at the Millennium Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3517244.stm|title=Blackpool 2-0 Southend|publisher=BBC|date=21 March 2004 |accessdate=27 October 2018}}

=Bristol City, Port Vale and return to Stockport=

With just twenty appearances, his time with Bristol City proved short-lived, and he moved to Port Vale on loan at the end of the 2004–05 season,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/4372391.stm|title=Dinning seals loan deal with Vale |date=22 March 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} signing permanently the following summer.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/port_vale/4599665.stm|title= Port Vale complete Dinning swoop|date=1 June 2005|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} He played 41 games in the 2005–06 campaign, also taking up the captain's armband. In May 2006, he agreed a deal to re-join former club Stockport County.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/5020070.stm|title=Dinning set for Stockport return|date=26 May 2006|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} Manager Jim Gannon described Dinning as a "born leader", and utilized him in 32 league games.{{cite news|url=http://www.pitmenweb.com/playerprofiledinning.htm|title=Tony Dinning Midfield|work=pitmenweb.com|accessdate=4 July 2011}}

=Chester City=

In August 2007, Dinning had his contract with Stockport cancelled by mutual agreement,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stockport/6978102.stm|title=County and Dinning part company |date=4 September 2007|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} due to lack of first-team opportunities.[http://www.stockportcounty.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10419~1103662,00.html Dinning contract cancelled] After a month spent training with Chester City, he finally joined on 5 October 2007.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7030583.stm|title=Chester sign midfielder Dinning |date=5 October 2007|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 May 2009}} He made his debut two days later in a 3–1 win over Shrewsbury Town and scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot in Chester's 1–0 win at Lincoln City the following month. Later in the season, Dinning and teammate, Paul Butler, became embroiled in a dispute with the club and manager Simon Davies.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chester/7466599.stm |title=Chester lambast transfer embargo |work=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2008 |accessdate=12 November 2008}} He remained at the club into 2008–09. However, Dinning was restricted to just two appearances in the opening half of the campaign, including a sending off shortly after coming on in a 1–0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth.{{cite news | url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/3956312.ANDERTON_S_FAIRYTALE_FINISH/ | title=Anderton's fairytale finish| year=2008 | newspaper=Bournemouth Daily Echo | accessdate=18 January 2009}} He was allowed to join Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle on trial in January 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1034006?UserKey=|title=Brewster puts faith in new boys for basement duel |newspaper=The Press and Journal |date=17 January 2009 |accessdate=18 January 2009}} He joined Conference National club, Grays Athletic on loan on 24 February 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=55886|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908232255/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=55886|url-status=usurped|archive-date=8 September 2012|title=Grays add experience|publisher=NonLeagueDaily.com|date=24 February 2009 |accessdate=25 February 2009}} On 26 March 2009, Dinning joined Conference North side Gateshead on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news |url=http://gateshead-fc.com/news2.php?i=1233 |title=Dinning and Stamp signings confirmed |publisher=Gateshead F.C. |date=27 March 2009 |accessdate=27 March 2009}}

=Later career=

After being released by Chester in May 2009, he joined Hednesford Town in the Southern Football League Premier Division, but soon left for Conference North club Stafford Rangers after Hednesford manager Dean Edwards left the club.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2009/12/15/veteran-dinning-a-doubt-for-rangers/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907075419/http://www.expressandstar.com/latest/2009/12/15/veteran-dinning-a-doubt-for-rangers/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 September 2012|title=Dinning a doubt for Rangers|date=15 December 2009|work=Express and Star|accessdate=4 July 2011}} He got into a car accident in December, and was sidelined for a few weeks due to a whiplash injury he sustained.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2010/01/26/dinning-getting-back-up-to-speed/|title=Dinning getting back up to speed|date=26 January 2010|work=Express and Star|accessdate=4 July 2011}} Captaining the side for a handful of games when Nick Wellecomme was absent,{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2010/02/15/dinning-ready-to-lead-at-rangers/|title=Dinning ready to lead at Rangers|date=15 February 2010|work=Express and Star|accessdate=4 July 2011}} he fell out of favour by the end of the season,{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2010/03/30/dinning-to-consider-rangers-future/|title=Dinning to consider Rangers future|date=30 March 2010|work=Express and Star|accessdate=4 July 2011}} after missing a penalty in an "embarrassing" ten men defeat to ten-man Ilkeston.{{cite news|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2010/03/22/dinnings-blast-for-under-par-rangers/|title=Dinning's blast for under-par Rangers|date=22 March 2010|work=Express and Star|accessdate=4 July 2011}} Dinning left the club in the summer after falling out with manager Mark Wright.{{cite news|title=Dinning first to be told to leave Chester|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Dinning+first+to+be+told+to+leave+Chester.-a0190360664|accessdate=22 April 2012|newspaper=Daily Post|date=12 December 2008}}

In July 2010, he joined Midland Football Alliance club Bridgnorth Town as a player-coach, working under Lee Mills.{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2010/07/24/ex-wolves-star-tony-dinning-joins-bridgnorth-town/|title=Ex-Wolves star Tony Dinning joins Bridgnorth Town|date=24 July 2010|work=Shropshire Star|accessdate=15 January 2011}} Making 13 appearances for Bridgnorth,{{cite news|url=http://www.btfc1949.co.uk/id11.html|title=BRIDGNORTH TOWN FC 2010 / 2011|work=btfc1949.co.uk|accessdate=4 July 2011}} at the end of their first season the pair quit the club, citing a wish to move on to a new challenge.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bridgnorthjournal.com/2011/05/27/town-boss-quits-2|title=Town boss quits|accessdate=2 June 2011|date=2 June 2011|work=bridgnorthjournal.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110911055511/http://www.bridgnorthjournal.com/2011/05/27/town-boss-quits-2/|archivedate=11 September 2011}}

Later and personal life

Dinning worked as a bathroom fitter and ran his own company, RT Bathrooms. He has three children: Ted, Jessie, and Billy.

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|League Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="8"\|Stockport County	1994–95	Second Division	40	1	4	0	4	0	0	0	48	1
1995–96	Second Division	10	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	1
1996–97{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=1996\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	Second Division	20	2	2	0	4	0	0	0	26	2
1997–98{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=1997\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	First Division	30	4	2	0	4	1	0	0	36	5
1998–99{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=1998\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	First Division	41	5	2	0	2	0	0	0	45	5
1999–2000{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=1999\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	First Division	44	12	1	0	2	1	0	0	47	13
2000–01{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2000\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	First Division	6	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	7	1
colspan="2"\|Total !191	25	11	0	17	3	0	0	219	28
Djurgården (loan)	1993{{cite journal\|title=Årets fotboll 1994\|trans-title=1994 Football of the year}}	Division 1 Norra	2	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	0	0	2	0
rowspan="3"\|Wolverhampton Wanderers	2000–01	First Division	31	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	32	6
2001–02{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2001\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	First Division	4	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	5	1
colspan="2"\|Total !35	6	1	0	1	1	0	0	37	7
rowspan="5"\|Wigan Athletic	2001–02	Second Division	33	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	34	5
2002–03{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2002\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	Second Division	38	7	2	0	4	0	0	0	44	7
2003–04{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2003\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	First Division	13	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	14	0
2004–05{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2004\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !84	12	3	0	5	0	0	0	92	12
Stoke City (loan)	2001–02	Second Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	3{{efn\|name=pof\|Appearance/s in the play-offs.}}	0	8	0
Walsall (loan)	2003–04	First Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Blackpool (loan)	2003–04	Second Division	10	3	0	0	0	0	3{{efn\|name=efl\|Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.}}	0	13	3
Ipswich Town (loan)	2004–05	Championship	7	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	9	0
Bristol City	2004–05	League One	19	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=efl}}	0	20	0
rowspan="3"\|Port Vale	2004–05	League One	7	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	3
2005–06{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2005\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	League One	35	2	4	0	1	0	1{{efn\|name=efl}}	0	41	2
colspan="2"\|Total !42	5	4	0	1	0	1	0	48	5
Stockport County	2006–07{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2006\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	League Two	32	2	3	0	1	0	2{{efn\|name=efl}}	0	38	2
rowspan="3"\|Chester City	2007–08{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2007\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	League Two	20	2	1	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=efl}}	0	22	2
2008–09{{Soccerbase season\|id=2061\|season=2008\|accessdate=1 January 2017}}	League Two	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
colspan="2"\|Total !24	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	26	2
Hednesford Town	2009–10{{cite web \|title=Player Stats 2009-2010 {{!}} pitmenweb \|url=https://www.pitmenweb.co.uk/player-stats-2009-20101 \|website=pitmenweb \|access-date=20 January 2021 \|language=en}}	Southern Premier Division	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
colspan="3"\|Career total{{efn\|name=not\|Statistics for Stafford Rangers not recorded.}} !462	56	23	0	27	0	11	4	523	60

Honours

Stockport County

Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1996–97

Stoke City

Football League Second Division play-offs: 2002

Wigan Athletic

Football League Second Division: 2002–03

Blackpool

Football League Trophy: 2003–04{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3517244.stm |title=Blackpool 2–0 Southend |website=BBC Sport |date=21 March 2004 |access-date=17 March 2024}}

Individual