Will Atkinson
Encyclopedia
William Henry "Will" Atkinson (born 14 October 1988) is an English
football midfielder
who plays for League Two
club Plymouth Argyle
on loan from Hull City
.
Beginning his professional career with Hull City in 2006, he has enjoyed loan spells at Port Vale
, Mansfield Town
, Rochdale
(twice), and Rotherham United
.
, East Riding of Yorkshire
, Atkinson started his career as a trainee with Hull City
. In December 2006, at the age of eighteen, he penned a two-and-a-half-year professional deal with the club.
In October 2007, he joined Dean Glover
's Port Vale
in League One
for a six week loan period. 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. Mansfield manager Bill Dearden
later extended the deal into a further month, 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. The loan was extended after the team went unbeaten in his six games at the club. 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. He marked this landmark appearance with a headed goal, though by this point Hull's relegation was confirmed. 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
.
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). He played just three games, but did find the net in a 5–0 demolition of former club Port Vale. 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. 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. Atkinson made his debut on 13 August and scored his first goal for Plymouth in a 4–1 loss against Rotherham United
. On 3 September, Atkinson scored his second goal for Plymouth in a 2–1 loss against Burton Albion
. On 19 November, Atkinson scored his third goal in a 3–1 loss against Torquay United
. The following week, Atkinson scored his fourth goal in a 4–1 win over Northampton Town
.
|2006–07||Hull City
||Championship
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2007–08
||Hull City
||Championship
||0||0||1||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|2007–08
||Port Vale
||League One
||4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2007–08||Mansfield Town
||League Two
||12||0||0||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|2008–09||Hull City
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2009–10||Hull City
||Premier League||2||1||0||0||1||0||3||1
|-
|2009–10
||Rochdale
||League Two
||15||3||0||0||0||0||15||3
|-
|2010–11
||Hull City
||Championship
||4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2010–11
||Rotherham United
||League Two
||3||1||0||0||0||0||3||1
|-
|2010–11||Rochdale
||League One
||21||2||0||0||0||0||21||2
|-
|2011–12
||Hull City
||Championship
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2011–12
||Plymouth Argyle
||League Two
||17||4||2||0||0||0||19||4
|-
78||11||3||0||1||0||82||11
78||11||3||0||1||0||82||11
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...
football 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...
who plays for 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....
club Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on loan from Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
.
Beginning his professional career with Hull City in 2006, he has enjoyed loan spells at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
(twice), and Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
.
Career
Born in BeverleyBeverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
, East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, Atkinson started his career as a trainee with Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. In December 2006, at the age of eighteen, he penned a two-and-a-half-year professional deal with the club.
In October 2007, he joined Dean Glover
Dean Glover
Dean Victor Glover is an English former footballer and football manager. A cultured and stylish defender, he had the ball control skills of a midfielder. He played 457 league games in a seventeen year career in the Football League.He started his career at Aston Villa in 1980, before he moved on to...
's Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
for a six week loan period. He made his senior debut on 13 October, in a 1–0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
. Fourteen days later he won his first start, in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. Upon his return he made one substitute appearance for Hull, in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
defeat to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 5 January. Later in the month he joined 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....
Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
on a one month loan. Mansfield manager Bill Dearden
Bill Dearden
William Dearden is an English football manager, most recently at Mansfield Town prior to his departure in March 2008. Dearden also managed the Stags between 1999 and 2002, as well as managing Notts County, and having a four-day spell as joint caretaker manager of Port Vale in 1999...
later extended the deal into a further month, 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
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
bow on 25 August 2009, and was replaced by Kevin Kilbane
Kevin Kilbane
Kevin Daniel Kilbane is an English-born Irish association footballer who plays as a left back or left winger for Derby County, on loan from Hull City....
73 minutes into a 3–1 win over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. In November he joined Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on a month long loan. The loan was extended after the team went unbeaten in his six games at the club. This run included a 3–0 win over Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
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
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
at the DW Stadium on 3 May. He marked this landmark appearance with a headed goal, though by this point Hull's relegation was confirmed. 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
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
He was selected for four Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
games at the start of 2010–11
2010–11 Hull City A.F.C. season
The 2010–11 season is Hull City's first season back in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League in the 2009–10 season.-Current squad:-Transfers:...
, before he signed for Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
on loan deadline day (25 November). He played just three games, but did find the net in a 5–0 demolition of former club Port Vale. 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. He went on to make 21 appearances for "Dale", finding the net twice.
In August 2011, he joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on loan for the entirety of the 2011–12
2011–12 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Plymouth Argyle's 100th as a professional football club, their 87th as a member of the Football League and their sixth in Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.-Background:...
season. Atkinson made his debut on 13 August and scored his first goal for Plymouth in a 4–1 loss against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
. On 3 September, Atkinson scored his second goal for Plymouth in a 2–1 loss against Burton Albion
Burton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
. On 19 November, Atkinson scored his third goal in a 3–1 loss against Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
. The following week, Atkinson scored his fourth goal in a 4–1 win over Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
.
Statistics
|-|2006–07||Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2007–08
2007–08 Hull City A.F.C. season
During the 2007–08 English football season, Hull City A.F.C. competed in the Football League Championship.-Season summary:Hull finished a mere four points adrift of second-placed Stoke City for promotion to the Premier League, qualifying for the play-offs instead...
||Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||0||0||1||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|2007–08
2007–08 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2007–08 season was Port Vale's ninety-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League One. Vale finished second-from-bottom, and were relegated, some twelve points from safety. Manager Martin Foyle left the club in September, and Lee Sinnott failed to...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2007–08||Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
||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....
||12||0||0||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|2008–09||Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||Premier League||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2009–10||Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||Premier League||2||1||0||0||1||0||3||1
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
||Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
||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....
||15||3||0||0||0||0||15||3
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Hull City A.F.C. season
The 2010–11 season is Hull City's first season back in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League in the 2009–10 season.-Current squad:-Transfers:...
||Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||4||0||0||0||0||0||4||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Rotherham United F.C. season
This page shows the progress of Rotherham United F.C. in the 2010-11 football season. This year they play their games in League Two in the English league system.-Squad:-League Table:...
||Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
||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....
||3||1||0||0||0||0||3||1
|-
|2010–11||Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||21||2||0||0||0||0||21||2
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Hull City A.F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Hull City's second consecutive season back in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League in the 2009–10 season...
||Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Plymouth Argyle's 100th as a professional football club, their 87th as a member of the Football League and their sixth in Football League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system.-Background:...
||Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
||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....
||17||4||2||0||0||0||19||4
|-
78||11||3||0||1||0||82||11
78||11||3||0||1||0||82||11
Honours
with Rochdale- Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
third-place promotion: 2009–102009–10 Football LeagueThe Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
External links
- Profile at the official Hull City site