Born in Blackpool, Lancashire, Blinkhorn started his career with hometown club Blackpool. He played as a substitute in the victorious 2004 Football League Trophy Final. On 22 November 2006 he was loaned to Bury, but Blackpool manager Simon Grayson included a 24-hour recall clause in the contract, which began 28 days into the loan period. The loan period was due to end on 22 February 2007, but Blackpool cut it short and he returned on 9 February.
He was loaned to Morecambe of the Conference National for a month on 2 March 2007. Blinkhorn made an immediate impact, scoring the first goal in a 2–0 victory over St Albans City. By the end of his loan stint he had scored eight goals in 12 games. Blinkhorn joined Morecambe on a permanent basis on 28 June 2007, for a fee of tribunal-set fee of £15,000, plus 25% of any future transfer fee that Morecambe were to receive for him.
Following the expiration of his Sligo contract, Blinkhorn returned to England after signing for Conference Premier side York City on a contract until the end of the 2011–12 season on 10 January 2012. He scored four minutes into his debut against Salisbury City in the FA Trophysecond round on 14 January 2012, having entered as a 65th-minute substitute, with York's fifth goal in a 6–2 victory. His first and only league goal for York came with the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time at home to Stockport County on 18 February 2012 after heading in Jamie Reed's bicycle kick. Having been uninvolved for York in their play-off games, which concluded with League Two promotion, Blinkhorn finished the season with two goals in 19 appearances for York. He was released on 3 July 2012.
After trials with Barrow and Chester, Blinkhorn signed for Conference Premier side Hyde on 17 August 2012. He scored on his debut for the club later that day, putting Hyde into the lead in a 2–1 defeat at home to Luton Town. He finished the season with Hyde having scored seven goals in 30 games.
In April 2013, he joined AFC Fylde on loan. Scoring two goals in three games including the opening goal against Hednesford Town in the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-off semi-final. On 25 June 2013, Blinkhorn signed a permanent one-year deal with Fylde.
Lancaster City
Blinkhorn joined Lancaster City in June 2018.
Coaching
On 29 October 2015 while playing for AFC Fylde, Blinkhorn was appointed as the Lead Foundation Coach for the Academy at Blackpool. In August 2018, he became a youth development lead coach at Fleetwood Town. Following the resignation of Lancaster manager Phil Brown on 10 September 2018, the club appointed Blinkhorn as caretaker manager together with Craig Stanley. They were in charge for 6 games.
