Bob Atkins
Encyclopedia
Robert Gary Atkins is an English
former footballer who played in the Football League
for Sheffield United and Preston North End.
Bob played 40 league games for United scoring 3 goals but midway through the 1984-85 season he was offered along with Gary Brazil
the chance to go on loan to Preston North End with the possibility of making the move permanent.
At the end of a season that saw Preston relegated Atkins along with Brazil signed permanently for the club for a combined fee of £
25,000. With Preston now in the Fourth Division (now Football League Two
)Bob was beginning to find his feet. However although originally a midfielder
Atkins who stood at 6'2 started finding himself due to injuries playing more frequently as a centre back. It was here that Bob really started to shine.Given the nickname "Skillful Bob" by the fans due to his ability to bring the ball out of defence and look for a passing option rather than "hoof" it as many lower league defenders did he was a mainstay and a rare sign of hope in what turned out to be Preston's worst ever campaign with the club finishing 91st in the Football league.
The following 1986-87 season
was though to be a turning point in both Bob's and Preston's fortunes.With John McGrath now in the Deepdale hot seat North End stormed to promotion with Bob's three pronged defensive partnership with Sam Allardyce
and Alex Jones, nicknamed "the solicitors" an absolute rock at the back.Atkins scored one of the goals of the season to equalise from distance away at Crewe on Boxing Day 86.The following three seasons for Atkins were much the same with him missing only a handful of games and turning out some sterling performances,indeed he was named the clubs official player of the year
in 1987-88 and was also awarded the club captaincy in 1988-89.
though proved to be his last for the club.Despite the club starting the season badly Bob was again a consistent performer in defence but an injury against Tranmere Rovers on Boxing Day
1989 more or less wiped out his season and although he returned for the final third of the season Bob was never to kick a ball for Preston again. The following season (1991–92) Bob spent on the treatment table trying to overcome his injury problems but at the end of the season after 240+2 games in which he scored 9 goals Bob was forced to admit defeat and hang up his boots.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer who played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Sheffield United and Preston North End.
Early years
Atkins was originally on the books of Leicester City whom he joined straight from school. He was however released by City without playing a first team game and for a while dropped down into non-league football with Enderby Town (later Leicester United ). It was while playing for Enderby that Sheffield United spotted him and after an initial trail period the 20 year old Atkins signed a permanent deal with The Blades.The Preston years
In two and a half years at Bramall LaneBramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
Bob played 40 league games for United scoring 3 goals but midway through the 1984-85 season he was offered along with Gary Brazil
Gary Brazil
Gary Nicholas Brazil is a former professional footballer and football manager in the English football league....
the chance to go on loan to Preston North End with the possibility of making the move permanent.
At the end of a season that saw Preston relegated Atkins along with Brazil signed permanently for the club for a combined fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
25,000. With Preston now in the Fourth Division (now Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
)Bob was beginning to find his feet. However although originally a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Atkins who stood at 6'2 started finding himself due to injuries playing more frequently as a centre back. It was here that Bob really started to shine.Given the nickname "Skillful Bob" by the fans due to his ability to bring the ball out of defence and look for a passing option rather than "hoof" it as many lower league defenders did he was a mainstay and a rare sign of hope in what turned out to be Preston's worst ever campaign with the club finishing 91st in the Football league.
The following 1986-87 season
1986-87 in English football
The 1986–87 season was the 107th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :The First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Athletic Bilbao. His side overcame a spate of injuries to fight off...
was though to be a turning point in both Bob's and Preston's fortunes.With John McGrath now in the Deepdale hot seat North End stormed to promotion with Bob's three pronged defensive partnership with Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
and Alex Jones, nicknamed "the solicitors" an absolute rock at the back.Atkins scored one of the goals of the season to equalise from distance away at Crewe on Boxing Day 86.The following three seasons for Atkins were much the same with him missing only a handful of games and turning out some sterling performances,indeed he was named the clubs official player of the year
Preston North End Player of the Year Award Winners
Winners of the official Preston North End F.C. Player of the Year Award since its inception in 1967–68:...
in 1987-88 and was also awarded the club captaincy in 1988-89.
Injuries
The 1989-90 season1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
though proved to be his last for the club.Despite the club starting the season badly Bob was again a consistent performer in defence but an injury against Tranmere Rovers on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1989 more or less wiped out his season and although he returned for the final third of the season Bob was never to kick a ball for Preston again. The following season (1991–92) Bob spent on the treatment table trying to overcome his injury problems but at the end of the season after 240+2 games in which he scored 9 goals Bob was forced to admit defeat and hang up his boots.