After four years with Carlisle, he joined Darlington in 2011, breaking his run of ten consecutive seasons in the third tier of English football.

[6][5] Bridge-Wilkinson joined Port Vale on a free transfer following his trial and made his debut in a 4–1 defeat at Oldham Athletic on 12 August 2000.

[17] Bridge-Wilkinson made just 22 starts with Stockport, and in February 2005, joined Bradford City, also of League One, on a month's loan deal to cover for injuries.

Bridge-Wilkinson made his City debut on 25 February 2005 in a 1–1 draw with Walsall[19] and after four games he signed a two-year deal on transfer deadline day to stay at Valley Parade permanently.

On 16 September 2006, he scored against his former club Port Vale,[26] but it was just one of four goals for Bridge-Wilkinson that season, as Bradford were relegated into League Two.

[4] He played 52 games in his first full season at the club, including both legs of the League One play-off semi-final with Leeds United.

He also made an appearance at Wembley Stadium in the Football League Trophy final, which ended in a 4–1 defeat to Southampton.

[33] Searching for first-team football,[34] in October 2010 he joined Conference National club Darlington on loan for one month.

[42] At the end of the campaign he picked up the second significant honour of his career, as Darlington lifted the 2011 FA Trophy with a 1–0 victory over Mansfield Town at Wembley.

[43] Darlington suffered financial difficulties during Bridge-Wilkinson's time at the club and his contract was terminated on 16 January 2012, along with the rest of the playing squad and caretaker manager Craig Liddle; he stated that "to say I feel sick is an understatement".

[44] However, a surprise decision meant that the club would continue to complete their remaining fixtures, and Bridge-Wilkinson returned to Darlington on a non-contract basis.