Tony Dinning - Player Profile

Tony arrived at the JJB Stadium from Wolverhampton Wanderers on 7th September 2001 became Wigan Athletic’s first ever £1million player. He was signed on loan initially to allow him to make his Latics League debut against Bury at Gigg Lane the following day, a game that resulted in a 2-0 victory for the Blues, their first win of the season. The terms of the deal were a down payment of £750,000 and a further payment of £250,000 to follow depending on appearances. He signed a four-year contract at the JJB Stadium but after making 32+1 League appearances during which scored 5 League goals, he made a shock loan move to Second Division rivals Stoke City on Wednesday 27th March 2002 and this was expected to be made permanent at the end of the season.

Stoke City won the Second Division play-off final at the end of season 2001/02 and Tony played in that game at the Millennium Stadium. However, the Potters manager Gudjon Thordarson was sacked at the end of the season and at the time it looked like his Latics career was over. However, he returned to the fray for the start of the following season and after a ‘heart to heart chat’ with manager Paul Jewell, he played a major part in Latics’ Second Division Championship success. He was once again loaned out in November of the following season when he joined First Division rivals Walsall in a deal that brought Saddlers Jamaican International Jamie Lawrence to the JJB Stadium in a similar deal.

After making 2+3 League appearances without scoring for the Saddlers, he returned to the JJB Stadium on 21st December 2003. Jamie returned to Walsall on the same day. Upon his return, Paul Jewell made it clear that he didn’t figure in his first team plans and on 23rd January 2003 he was loaned to Blackpool. On 21st March 2004 he won a LDV Vans Trophy winners medal when he turned out for the Tangerines at the Millennium Stadium against Southend United. Blackpool won the game 2-0 with Tony playing a key role in midfield.

However, on Monday 29th March 2004 he returned to the JJB Stadium having played 10 League games and scoring 3 League goals for the Tangerines. By the end of season 2003/04 he had made 79+5 League appearances and scored 11 League goals.

He was told at the start of the next league campaign that he no longer figured in Paul Jewell’s plans and on Sunday 8th August 2004 he signed for League Championship rivals Ipswich Town on a two month loan deal, where he teamed up with former Latics team mate Jason De Vos. He returned to Latics on 1st October having played 3+4 League games for the Tractor Boys. On 27th October 2004 he was loaned to League One outfit Bristol City. He made 6+0 League appearances without scoring for the Robins before returning to Latics on Monday 29th November 2004.

The soap opera that was Dinning’s Latics career ended on 6th December 2004 when he signed a two and a half year deal to stay at Ashton gate. There was no fee involved and so, he became the club’s most expensive player ever to be given a free transfer. However, following a further twist Tony ended the season on loan from Bristol City to Port Vale! Although obviously on Latics’ books during the historic season that the Blues reached the Premiership for the first time in their history, Tony didn’t figure in any League or Cup games.