His first match after this promotion was in the old Football League Third Division on 27 August 1988, the game between Mansfield Town and Northampton Town, which finished 1–1.† In September 1987 he had been given duties as linesman for a UEFA Cup match in Dundee, and in 1991 was selected to run the line for Keith Hackett in the European Cup semi-final first leg at the Stade Vélodrome between Marseille and Spartak Moscow.
Wilkie would step up to handle his first European game as referee in the Anglo-Italian Cup tie between Ancona and Charlton in November 1993.† He was included in the list of Premier League referees towards the end of the 1992–93 season, handling his first game in that competition (and sending off his first Premiership player, the away side's Tony Cascarino) on 24 March 1993, when Leeds United drew 1–1 at home to Chelsea at Elland Road.
"[5] On 27 February 2000, Wilkie stepped out for what should have been the most prestigious domestic appointment of his career, the Football League Cup Final between Leicester City and Tranmere Rovers at Wembley.
[9] He retired from refereeing in the year 2000 after his final Premiership match, the game between Manchester United and Spurs at Old Trafford on 6 May 2000, when the home side won 3–1.
[10] In October 2003, he was part of a team conducting a "workshop for Senior Referees" in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on behalf of CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football), and in conjunction with the English FA.