He appeared in Scotland for Livingston before going on to feature in non-league for Whitby Town, Shildon, Esh Winning and Newton Aycliffe.
Tinkler was part of the youth team that made the FA Youth Cup Final and played against a Manchester United side that fielded a mass of future internationals including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
[citation needed] He left Leeds United in March 1997 and joined York City permanently for a fee of £85,000.
[citation needed] In November 2000, Tinkler signed for Third Division side Hartlepool United on a two-and-a-half-year deal.
[10] Tinkler's Hartlepool debut came against Scunthorpe United on 4 November 2000, in which they lost 3–0,[11] and he immediately cemented his place in the first team and he formed a formidable partnership alongside Paul Stephenson and Tommy Miller.
[12] The 2001–02 season saw Tinkler score nine goals in forty league appearances as Hartlepool finished 7th, and qualified for the play-offs.