Will Atkinson

William Henry Atkinson (born 14 October 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder; he is without a club after leaving Port Vale in June 2020.

For other people with the same name, see William Atkinson (disambiguation).

Will Atkinson
Atkinson playing for Southend United in 2014
Personal information
Full name William Henry Atkinson[1]
Date of birth (1988-10-14) 14 October 1988[1]
Place of birth Driffield, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1997–2006 Hull City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2012 Hull City 6 (1)
2007 → Port Vale (loan) 4 (0)
2008 → Mansfield Town (loan) 12 (0)
2009–2010 → Rochdale (loan) 15 (3)
2010–2011 → Rotherham United (loan) 3 (1)
2011 → Rochdale (loan) 21 (2)
2011–2012 → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 22 (4)
2012 → Bradford City (loan) 12 (1)
2012–2013 Bradford City 42 (1)
2013–2017 Southend United 154 (10)
2017–2019 Mansfield Town 57 (3)
2019–2020 Port Vale 11 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 11 February 2020 (UTC)

Having begun his professional career with Hull City in 2006, Atkinson spent time on loan with Port Vale, Mansfield Town, Rochdale (twice), Rotherham United and Plymouth Argyle. He was promoted out of League Two with Rochdale in 2009–10. He signed with Bradford City in July 2012, and played in the 2013 League Cup final defeat and the 2013 League Two play-off final victory. He signed with Southend United in July 2013, and helped the club to win the 2015 League Two play-off final. He signed with Mansfield Town in May 2017. He signed a short-term deal with Port Vale in October 2019.

Career

Hull City

Born in Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, Atkinson started his career as a trainee with Hull City.[1] In December 2006, at the age of eighteen, he penned a two-and-a-half-year professional deal with the club.[2][3]

In October 2007, he joined caretaker-manager Dean Glover's Port Vale in League One for a six-week loan period.[4] He made his senior debut on 13 October, in a 1–0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion at Vale Park.[5] Fourteen days later he won his first start, in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town. He made a total of four appearances for the "Valiants" before returning to Hull after Lee Sinnott replaced Glover as manager.[5] Upon his return he made one substitute appearance for Hull, in an FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 5 January. Later in the month he joined League Two Mansfield Town on a one-month loan.[6][7] Mansfield manager Bill Dearden later extended the deal into a further month,[8] and handed Atkinson a total of ten starts and two substitute appearances. He had a quiet 2008–09, not joining any clubs on loan and not making an appearance for the Hull City first team, as the "Tigers" enjoyed their maiden season in the Premier League.

He made his League Cup bow on 25 August 2009, and was replaced by Kevin Kilbane 73 minutes into a 3–1 win over Southend United. In November he joined Rochdale on a month long loan.[9] The loan was extended after the team went unbeaten in his six games at the club.[10] This run included a 3–0 win over Macclesfield Town on 5 December, in which Atkinson scored his first senior goal. Though he returned before the end of the season, his efforts in his fifteen appearances helped Rochdale to win automatic promotion into League One. Upon his return to Hull he won his first start for the club in the Premier League clash with Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium on 3 May.[11] He marked this landmark appearance with a headed goal, though by this point Hull's relegation was confirmed.[12] Six days later he played in the club's last game of the season, helping them to earn a respectable point at home to Liverpool.[13]

He was selected for four Championship games at the start of 2010–11, before he signed for Rotherham United on loan deadline day (25 November).[14] He played just three games, but did find the net in a 5–0 demolition of former club Port Vale.[15] In January 2011, Atkinson decided to rejoin Rochdale on loan for the end of the season, after turning down the opportunity for extending his United loan.[16] He went on to make 21 appearances for "Dale", finding the net twice.

In August 2011, he joined Plymouth Argyle on loan for the entirety of the 2011–12 season.[17] He scored the opening goal on his debut against Rotherham United and at the beginning of September at Burton Albion.[18] Atkinson netted two more goals in November, against Torquay United and Northampton Town respectively.[18] Atkinson was recalled by Hull City in January 2012, having made 25 appearances in all competitions for Argyle.[19][20]

Bradford City

In January 2012, he signed on loan with Bradford City until the end of the season.[21] He scored his first goal for the "Bantams" on 28 February, in a 4–0 win over Barnet at Underhill.[22] In July 2012 he signed a one-year contract with Bradford City.[23] On 11 August, he made his first appearance since signing permanently, in a 1–0 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane.[24] He scored his first goal of the season on 3 November, opening the scoring in a 1–1 draw away to Northampton Town in the first round of the FA Cup.[25] He scored his second goal of the season in the replay on 13 November which finished 3–3, and also scored his penalty in the resulting shoot-out which Bradford won 4–2.[26] On 12 February 2013, he scored his first league goal of the season in a 3–0 win away to Wycombe Wanderers.[27] Having played in all seven matches of Bradford's run to the 2013 final of the League Cup, including victories over Premier League sides Wigan Athletic, Arsenal and Aston Villa, he played at Wembley in the 5–0 defeat to Swansea City.[28] He was a 78th-minute substitute in the play-off final victory over Northampton Town.[29]

Southend United
Atkinson playing for Southend United in 2014

In July 2013, Atkinson signed a two-year contract with Southend United, reuniting him with his former Hull City boss, Phil Brown.[30] He was an ever-present in the league for the "Shrimpers" in the 2013–14 season, and helped the club to secure a play-off spot, where they were beaten by Burton Albion at the semi-final stage. He was a first team regular in the 2014–15 campaign as United again secured a play-off place, and played the first 80 minutes of the play-off final as Southend beat Wycombe Wanderers to win promotion into League One.[31] He signed a new two-year contract in June 2015, and went on to make 39 appearances in the 2015–16 campaign as Southend posted a 15th-place finish.[32] Atkinson scored four goals in 41 games in the 2016–17 season as United finished in seventh place, one place and one point outside the play-offs. He scored two of these goals in a 3–0 win over former club Bradford City at Roots Hall on 19 November, which earned himself a place on the EFL team of the week.[33] He chose to leave the club in the summer after feeling that he "wasn't made to feel valued or wanted by Southend".[34]

Mansfield Town

On 30 May 2017, Atkinson joined EFL League Two club Mansfield Town as manager Steve Evans's 11th summer signing.[35] He was transfer-listed by Mansfield at the end of the 2017–18 season.[36] However he remained at Field Mill and was praised by manager David Flitcroft for his contribution as a squad player during the 2018–19 season, before being released in May 2019.[37][38]

Port Vale

On 4 October 2019, Atkinson signed a short-term deal with Port Vale, 12 years after he briefly played for the club on loan.[39] He was signed by manager John Askey following injuries to Tom Conlon and Manny Oyeleke, leaving him to compete with Luke Joyce, Jake Taylor, Scott Burgess and Ryan Lloyd for a place in central midfield.[40] He was up to match fitness after having spent a full pre-season training with Doncaster Rovers.[41] He made his "second debut" for the club the following day, playing at right-back in a 3–1 home win over Morecambe, and in doing so set a club record for the longest time between appearances as his previous game for the club came 11 years and 11 months earlier.[42] He scored his first goal for the club on 22 October, when his injury-time strike secured a 2–1 victory over former club Bradford City at Valley Parade.[43] In January 2020, he signed an extended deal to keep him at the club until the end of the 2019–20 season.[44] However he was not retained at the end of the campaign.[45]

Style of play

Atkinson is a central midfielder, but is versatile and can play at wide right, wing-back and right-back.[40] Port Vale manager John Askey described him as "a good passer of the ball and an intelligent player."[40]

Personal life

Atkinson's father, Kevin, director of Hull company Thermoplant Offshore Services, used to run his junior team in Brandesburton.[46] He has two sisters: Rachel and Frances.[46]

Career statistics
As of match played 11 February 2020
Club Season Division League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Hull City2006–07[47]Championship0000000000
2007–08[48]Championship0010000010
2008–09[49]Premier League0000000000
2009–10[50]Premier League2100100031
2010–11[51]Championship4000000040
2011–12[52]Championship0000000000
Total 6110100081
Port Vale (loan)2007–08[48]League One4000000040
Mansfield Town (loan)2007–08[48]League Two120000000120
Rochdale (loan)2009–10[50]League Two153000000153
Rotherham United (loan)2010–11[51]League Two3100000031
Rochdale (loan)2010–11[51]League One212000000212
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2011–12[52]League Two22420001[lower-alpha 1]0254
Bradford City2011–12[52]League Two121000000121
2012–13[53]League Two42132804[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]0573
Total 542328040694
Southend United2013–14[54]League Two45231103[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]0523
2014–15[55]League Two36200104[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]0412
2015–16[56]League One36200003[lower-alpha 1]0392
2016–17[57]League One37410003[lower-alpha 1]0414
Total 15410412013017511
Mansfield Town2017–18[58]League Two392301030462
2018–19[59]League Two181102040251
Total 573403070713
Port Vale2019–20[60]League Two11110003[lower-alpha 1]0151
Career total 3592715314028042630
  1. Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
  2. Appearance/s in the play-offs.

Honours

Rochdale

Bradford City

Southend United

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Future stars sign up". Hull City A.F.C. Official Website. 8 December 2006. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
  3. "Tigers quartet sign pro contracts". BBC Sport. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  4. "Struggling Port Vale recruit duo". BBC Sport. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  5. Baggaley, Michael (4 October 2019). "Who is Will Atkinson: All about the midfielder who has signed for Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  6. "Atkinson heads to Mansfield". Hull Daily Mail. 28 August 2001. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  7. "Stags recruit Tigers midfielder". BBC Sport. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  8. "Hull wideman extends Stags stint". BBC Sport. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  9. "Rochdale make double loan signing". BBC Sport. 20 November 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  10. "Rochdale extend loans of Will Atkinson and Jason Taylor". BBC Sport. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  11. "Wigan 2–2 Hull". BBC. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  12. "Wigan 2–2 Hull". BBC Sport. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  13. Reekie, Harry (9 May 2010). "Hull 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  14. "Rotherham United sign Will Atkinson & Paul Downing". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  15. "Rotherham 5–0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 January 2001. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  16. "Midfielder Will Atkinson rejects Rotherham United deal". BBC Sport. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  17. "Hull City's Will Atkinson joins Plymouth Argyle on loan". BBC Sport. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  18. "Will Atkinson". GoS–DB. Greens on Screen. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  19. "Atkinson Recalled From Plymouth Loan". Hull City A.F.C. 12 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  20. "Hull City recall Will Atkinson from Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  21. "Atkinson signs up". Bradford City A.F.C. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  22. "Barnet 0–4 Bradford" BBC Sport. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  23. "Bradford City sign midfielder Will Atkinson". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  24. "Notts County 0–1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
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  31. Shepka, Phil (23 May 2015). "Southend United 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  32. "Will Atkinson: Southend United midfielder signs two-year deal". BBC Sport. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  33. "Sky Bet EFL: Team of the Week". www.efl.com. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  34. Philips, Chris (1 June 2017). "Atkinson: I didn't feel wanted by Blues". Echo. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  35. "Will Atkinson: Mansfield Town sign Southend United midfielder". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  36. "Mansfield Town release Rhys Bennett and six others transfer-listed". BBC Sport. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  37. Thirkill, Stephen (2 March 2019). "David Flitcroft praises Mansfield Town squad players after 'pleasing' win over Cheltenham Town". www.chad.co.uk. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  38. "Stags announce retained list". www.mansfieldtown.net. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  39. "Will Atkinson: Port Vale sign midfielder on short-term deal". BBC Sport. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  40. Baggaley, Michael (4 October 2019). "Port Vale sign former Hull, Southend and Mansfield midfielder Will Atkinson". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  41. "Will Atkinson 'buzzing' to be back at the Vale". www.port-vale.co.uk. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  42. Baggaley, Michael (5 October 2019). "Will Atkinson makes Port Vale history by playing in Morecambe game". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  43. Baggaley, Michael (22 October 2019). "Bradford 1, Port Vale 2 report: Atkinson's late strike sparks wild celebrations". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  44. Baggaley, Michael (7 January 2020). "Midfielder signs new deal at Port Vale". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  45. Baggaley, Michael (18 May 2020). "Port Vale release six players and offer seven new contracts in retained list". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  46. Davidson, Trudi (23 February 2013). "Where there's our Will, there's a way to Wembley: Parents pride at Bradford's Atkinson". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
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