Early career Born in
Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, Bishop began his career with
Middlesbrough in their youth system. After being released by Middlesbrough as a teenager he moved to
Northern League club
Billingham Town and played there for a number of years. In a match in 2001, he played alongside his brother Craig, aged 16, and father Rob, aged 46, as the team had eight matches to play in 15 days towards the end of the 2000–01 season. He made 11 appearances and scored two goals for
Gateshead in all competitions in the 2002–03 season, He played for
Spennymoor United in the 2003–04 season, making 38 appearances and scoring three goals. following a week-long trial. He made 11 appearances and scored one goal for Scarborough during this season, His lip was cut in an alleged clash with
Denny Ingram in the tunnel following a match against
Halifax Town in November, which Bishop decided not to press charges against.
York City He was signed by Scarborough's Conference rivals
York City for an undisclosed nominal fee on 31 January 2006. He finished the season with 14 appearances and one goal for York and signed a new contract with the club in July. He scored the winning goal against
Oxford United with a 20-yard volley on the final day of the
2006–07 season, meaning York secured a place in the
Conference National play-offs. He was voted as the York City
Clubman of the Year for the season the same day, finishing the season with 49 appearances and scoring three goals.
Barnet He signed for
League Two club
Barnet in June 2007 on a
free transfer as he was out of contract with York. He said he decided to join Barnet so he could fulfil a lifelong ambition of playing in
the Football League. He made his debut against
Morecambe on 11 August 2007 and was sent off for violent conduct in his second match against
Norwich City in the
League Cup on 14 August 2007, which resulted in a three-match suspension. He finished the 2007–08 season with 47 appearances and two goals for Barnet, Despite this, the club exercised their option to extend his contract for another season in May. He was removed from the transfer list at his own request after the start of the 2008–09 season. in 2008 Bishop was appointed as Barnet's captain in November after
Ismail Yakubu gave up the role. He suffered a fractured jaw after being kicked in the face during a match against
Darlington by
Ricky Ravenhill in December, which ruled him out for the Christmas period. He finished the season with 48 appearances, scoring one goal,
Notts County Bishop agreed to join fellow League Two team
Notts County on 20 May 2009, and a day later he signed a pre-contract agreement to join the club on 1 July. He made 51 appearances and scored one goal for the club during the
2009–10 season, He signed a two-year contract extension with County on 5 July 2010, which contracted him at the club until June 2012. In January 2011, he scored in County's 1–1 draw against
Premier League team
Manchester City in the
fourth round of the
FA Cup, which saw them earn a replay at the
City of Manchester Stadium. During the closing stages of the
2010–11 season, he was named as the new team captain by Paul Ince. He finished the 2010–11 season with 51 appearances and two goals, On 10 May 2011, Bishop signed a new two-year contract with County, keeping him at the club until June 2013.
Blackpool Bishop signed for
Championship club
Blackpool on 2 August 2013 on a five-month contract. He scored his first goal for Blackpool in a 2–1 win over
AFC Bournemouth on 14 September 2013. On 2 December 2013, Bishop extended his contract at Blackpool until the end of the 2013–14 season.
Scunthorpe United Bishop signed for newly promoted League One club
Scunthorpe United on 19 June 2014 on a two-year contract.
Mansfield Town Bishop signed for League Two club
Mansfield Town on 6 June 2018. He was released by Mansfield at the end of the
2019–20 season.
Non-League Bishop joined
Scarborough Athletic in September 2020 after turning down offers from a number of clubs higher in the football pyramid. After the season was annulled, Bishop announced his departure from the club in March 2021. On 17 May 2021, Bishop joined
Gainsborough Trinity in a player-coach role. He held the role of manager at the club from May 2022, overseeing a play-off defeat before stepping down in September 2023. On 24 May 2022, Bishop was appointed joint-manager at Gainsborough along with Damon Parkinson. Bishop resigned as manager and departed in September 2023, citing personal reasons. ==International career==