Will Atkinson

Will Atkinson

Atkinson playing for Southend United in 2014
Personal information
Full name	William Henry Atkinson[1]
Date of birth	14 October 1988[1]
Place of birth	Driffield, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Southend United
Number	12
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–	Southend United	106	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:58, 23 February 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

William Henry "Will" Atkinson (born 14 October 1988) is an English footballer who plays for League One side Southend United. Described as a tricky winger,^[2] he can play on either side of the midfield.

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.

Playing 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.^[3][4]

In October 2007, he joined Dean Glover's Port Vale in League One for a six-week loan period.^[5] He made his senior debut on 13 October, in a 1–0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion at Vale Park. Fourteen days later he won his first start, in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town. 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]

Personal life

Atkinson's father, Kevin, director of Hull company Thermoplant Offshore Services, used to run his junior team in Brandesburton.^[32] He has two sisters: Rachel and Frances.^[32]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 May 2015.^[33]

Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[34]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2006–07	Hull City	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2007–08[35]			0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
2007–08[35]	Port Vale (loan)	League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2007–08[35]	Mansfield Town (loan)	League Two	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
2008–09	Hull City	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2009–10[36]			2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	1
2009–10[36]	Rochdale (loan)	League Two	15	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	3
2010–11[37]	Hull City	Championship	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2010–11[37]	Rotherham United (loan)	League Two	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
2010–11[37]	Rochdale (loan)	League One	21	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	2
2011–12[38]	Hull City	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2011–12[38]	Plymouth Argyle (loan)	League Two	22	4	2	0	0	0	1	0	25	4
Total			6	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	8	1
2011–12[38]	Bradford City	League Two	12	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	1
2012–13[39]			42	1	3	2	8	0	4	0	57	3
Total			54	2	3	2	8	0	4	0	69	4
2013–14[40]	Southend United	League Two	45	2	3	1	1	0	3	0	52	3
2014–15[41]			36	2	0	0	1	0	4	0	41	2
2015–16[42]		League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total			81	4	3	1	2	0	7	0	93	5
Career total			218	17	9	3	11	0	9	0	250	20

Honours

Rochdale

• Football League Two third-place promotion: 2009–10

Bradford City

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2013
• Football League Two play-off winner: 2013

Southend United

• Football League Two play-off winner: 2015

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. "Will Atkinson". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
3. "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.
4. "Tigers quartet sign pro contracts". BBC Sport. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
5. "Struggling Port Vale recruit duo". BBC Sport. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
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. 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.
25. "Northampton 1-1 Bradford" BBC Sport. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
26. "Bradford 3-3 Northampton" BBC Sport. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
27. "Wycombe 0-3 Bradford" BBC Sport. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
28. "Bradford 0 - 5 Swansea". BBC Sport. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
29. "Bradford 3 - 0 Northampton". BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
30. "Will Atkinson: Southend United sign midfielder from Bradford". BBC Sport. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
31. Shepka, Phil (23 May 2015). "Southend 1 - 1 Wycombe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
32. 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.
33. Will Atkinson career statistics at Soccerbase
34. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy
35. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
36. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
37. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
38. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
39. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
40. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
41. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
42. "Games played by Will Atkinson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.

External links

• Will Atkinson career statistics at Soccerbase