Pinkerton played for Hull City before joining Port Vale in May 1935.
[1] After just two games he was released at the end of the 1935–36 season, at which point he moved on to Burnley.
[1] He made his Burnley debut on 26 September 1936 in the goalless draw with Swansea Town at Turf Moor.
[3] Pinkerton made two further league appearances for Burnley in the 1937–38 campaign, before leaving to play for Falkirk[4] and later Bo'ness United.
After quitting professional football, he emigrated to Canada to work as a coach.