[2] He made over 70 Premier League appearances for Middlesbrough and scored 2 goals in games against Watford[3] and Chelsea,[4] as well as earning five international caps for Scotland.
Stockdale was signed on a two-year contract by his former Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore for Tranmere Rovers in a £100,000 deal which also brought Kevin Ellison to the club.
[7] He made his debut on 19 July in a pre-season friendly against Oldham Athletic at Blundell Park, and went on to score his first goal in a 2–1 defeat to Morecambe in the FA Cup.
Following an injury spell in mid season, Stockdale remained on the sidelines for several months while his position was covered by Jamie Clarke.
He managed a return to the first team in the closing months of the season and cemented his place at right back, eventually helping The Mariners stave off the threat of relegation from the Football League.
Although initially representing England at U21 level, Stockdale earned several call-ups to the Scotland team in 2002 whilst a Premier League regular for Middlesbrough.
Stockdale and assistant manager David Moore took caretaker control of the first team for the home tie with AFC Wimbledon on 5 March 2011, following the sacking of Neil Woods.
Stockdale and Moore relinquished managerial duties on 23 March to the newly-appointed duo of Paul Hurst and Rob Scott following two victories, one draw and one defeat.
[11][12] With four wins out of the final six games of that season, the team finished 4th in the Barclays U21 Premier League, just below Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
[22] After one game in charge, a 1–0 loss against Middlesbrough on 5 November,[23] McKinlay left Sunderland to take a coaching position at West Ham United.
[30] Stockdale was appointed to an assistant coaching position at Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in February 2019, working with Paul Heckingbottom.
[34] On 18 August 2022, Stockdale was dismissed as manager following defeat in their opening four games of the 2022–23 season, with the club rooted to the bottom of League Two.
[35] On 19 October 2022, Stockdale joined Hull City as a first team coach, to support interim manager Andy Dawson, on a temporary basis.