Tinson left Northwich to join Macclesfield Town for £10,000 in February 1996.
He was part of the Macclesfield Town side which gained promotion to the Football League and then moved on a free transfer to Shrewsbury Town where he again won promotion to the League before joining Burton Albion from 1 August 2005.
However, he elected to join fellow ex-Northwich defender Steve Davis's team Nantwich Town in the Northern Premier League.
On 10 March 2011 it was announced that along with joint manager Kevin Street he was leaving by mutual consent.
He later joined Leek Town He studied at the University of Salford for a degree in Physiotherapy.