Hinds started his career at the academy of
Tranmere Rovers before being promoted to the senior squad where he made a name for himself as a consistent and reliable performer. After 51 appearances, in July 2003 he signed for
Hull City He helped the club win promotion to
League One and in all made 48 appearances for the Tigers and scoring once against
Macclesfield Town. In May 2005 he was released by Hull City and was signed on a
Bosman transfer only two months in his spell. In July 2007, Hinds transferred to his boyhood club
Sheffield Wednesday after rejecting a contract from his former club
Scunthorpe United and agreeing to sign on a two-year deal with the Owls. His first goal came as he headed home the winner in a 2–1 victory against Blackpool at Hillsborough on 27 October 2007. In only the second game of the 2008–09 season, a 1–4 defeat away at
Wolverhampton Wanderers, Hinds suffered a severe fracture of his left leg. The injury looked like keeping him out for the majority of the remaining season but he returned in late February and once again became a regular member of the squad and in mid-march began claiming his place in the centre of the Owls defence at the expense of
Mark Beevers. Hinds remained a firm fan favourite at Sheffield Wednesday, as he became one of the shining lights of the team and a rock at the centre of the defence. However, in the 2009–10 season he failed to hold down a place in the squad. On 10 May 2011, Hinds was released from his contract by Sheffield Wednesday along with teammate
Tommy Miller. On 4 November 2011, Richard Hinds signed with Conference side
Lincoln City until the end of the year. On 2 February 2012, Hinds signed for
League One side
Yeovil Town on a contract until the end of April 2012 as cover for suspended captain
Paul Huntington. He made his debut against former club Sheffield Wednesday, and scored his first Yeovil goal in a 3–1 win over Rochdale. With Hinds short-term contract finishing at the end of April he missed the club's final match of the season but agreed a new one-year deal in late May. On 14 August 2012, Hinds scored two of Yeovil's goals in a 3–0 win over
Colchester United in the
Football League Cup. Hinds scored his first goal for Bury in the 1st round of the Football League Cup against
Crewe Alexandra. Bury went on to win the match 3–2.{{cite web Hinds joined
Cymru Alliance side
Llandudno on 22 August 2014 in a player/ assistant manager capacity. ==Outside football==