campaign, where he played in their play-off final triumph over Brentford. He returned to his parent club the following season, and played 44 games, helping them to win promotion as champions. However, he found himself out of favour in Wigan's subsequent second tier seasons, leading to loan spells at Walsall, Blackpool (who he captained), Ipswich Town, and finally, Bristol City, whom he eventually joined on a free transfer. At Blackpool he started the final as Blackpool won the 2003–04 Football League Trophy with a 2–0 victory over Southend United at the Millennium Stadium. Bristol City, Port Vale and return to Stockport With just twenty appearances, his time with Bristol City proved short-lived, and he moved to Port Vale on loan at the end of the 2004–05 season, signing permanently the following summer. He played 41 games in the 2005–06 campaign, also taking up the captain's armband. In May 2006, he agreed a deal to re-join former club Stockport County. Manager Jim Gannon described Dinning as a "born leader", and utilized him in 32 league games. Chester City In August 2007, Dinning had his contract with Stockport cancelled by mutual agreement, due to lack of first-team opportunities. After a month spent training with Chester City, he finally joined on 5 October 2007. He made his debut two days later in a 3–1 win over Shrewsbury Town and scored his first goal for the club from the penalty spot in Chester's 1–0 win at Lincoln City the following month. Later in the season Dinning and teammate, Paul Butler, became embroiled in a dispute with the club and manager Simon Davies, but they remained at the club into 2008–09. However, Dinning was restricted to just two appearances in the opening half of the campaign, including a sending off shortly after coming on in a 1–0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth. He was allowed to join Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle on trial in January 2009. He joined Conference National outfit, Grays Athletic on loan on 24 February 2009. On 26 March 2009, Dinning joined Conference North side Gateshead on loan until the end of the season. Later career After being released by Chester in May 2009, he joined Hednesford Town in the Southern Football League Premier Division, but soon left for Conference North club Stafford Rangers after Hednesford manager Dean Edwards left the club. He got into a car accident in December,