Pinkney started his professional career at Ryedale-York, scoring a try on his debut against Chorley Borough in November 1989.[7] He was signed by Keighley Cougars in 1993 for a fee of £40,000.[7] While at the Keighley Cougars, Pinkney scored over 100 tries, and broke the club record for most tries in a season twice in consecutive seasons.[7] In 1997, he joined Sheffield Eagles. Pinkney played and scored a try in Sheffield Eagles' 17–8 victory over Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1998.
In May 2000, Pinkney scored his 200th career try in a 20–38 defeat against Halifax.[8]