Winger Anthony Pilkington signed for Norwich from Huddersfield on 6th July 2011 for an undisclosed fee rumoured to be around £2million, with the Canaries seeing off interest from Wolves and Stoke.

Born in Blackburn, Pilkington spent time with the youth systems of Preston North End, Manchester United and home town club Blackburn Rovers. Pilkington joined Stockport County on 15th December 2006, from Atherton Collieries, where he made his name scoring a hat-trick against F.C. United of Manchester and signed initially on a short term contract at Edgeley Park. Pilkington then played a big part in County's record breaking run of results during January and February 2007. Pilkington continued to help Stockport's push for the playoffs by scoring a further two goals in a season which saw County miss out on the play-offs only on goal-difference

On 23rd January 2009, he was signed by fellow League One side Huddersfield Town on a three-and-a-half-year contract. He had made 80 appearances for County, scoring 17 times. He made his Terriers debut in the 1–0 defeat by Yeovil Town at Huish Park on 27th January 2009

On 30th June 2011, the club announced that Pilkington had declared his intention to leave following their failure to win promotion from League One. He had made 92 appearances for Huddersfield, scoring 19 goals.

Anthony has one Under-21 cap for the Republic of Ireland.

Pilkingon's brother Danny is a professional footballer who was with Stockport. other brother Karl is a TV and radio personality who has worked with Ricky Gervais and had his own TV show "An Idiot Abroad"

Pilkington made his Norwich debut as a 75th minute substitute in the opening day of the season clash at Wigan (13th August 2011) which Norwich drew 1-1. His first start came the following week (21st August) in the 1-1 home draw with Stoke. He scored his first Norwich goal in the 2-1 away win at Bolton on 17th September 2011 (City's first Premier League away win since 1994)

Impressive form in Norwich's opening start to the 2011/12 premier League season saw Pilkington linked with a call-up to the Irish squad, with Irish coach Marco Tardelli revealing that that Norwich City trio Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and Marc Tierney are firmly on his international radar ahead of the Euro 2012 finals. The former World Cup winner, who was at Carrow Road to see the Canaries take on Arsenal, admitted he and Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni were weighing up all their options with regards to their final 23-man Euro2012 squad. Press speculation also linked him with a £5million move to Liverpool.

Pilkington finished the 2011/12 season with 32 appearances and eight goals as Norwich finished 12th in the Premier League