Atkinson joined Middlesbrough's academy as an under-nine.[3] He was a member of the Middlesbrough under-15 squad that won the English qualifying competition for the 2007–08 Manchester United Premier Cup,[4] and took up a two-year scholarship with the club in 2009.[5] After the first twelve months, he was given his first professional contract, of four years; at that time, he was recovering from a stress fracture in his back,[4] and his progress was later disrupted by a serious knee injury.[6] He went on to captain Middlesbrough's under-21 team,[7] and in the second half of the 2013–14 season, was a regular member of the first-team squad. After eight consecutive Championship matches on the bench, Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka said that Atkinson was training well and was in his thoughts for a debut, but would not force him into a "difficult game" that might adversely affect his confidence.[8] He remained unused, and in September 2014, still without having played first-team football for Middlesbrough, joined League Two club Hartlepool United on a month's loan.[9] He lost time to a hamstring injury, the manager who signed him, Colin Cooper, resigned in the middle of his loan spell, and he made no senior appearances.[10][11]
He spent time on trial with League One club Walsall in February 2015, brought in by manager Dean Smith to check him out ahead of a possible summer signing – according to Smith, "He is someone [Middlesbrough] have thought highly of, but has not quite burst onto the first team scene as they would have liked.[12] – before signing for Carlisle United of League Two on loan on 26 March.[13] It was with Carlisle that he finally made his Football League debut, on 28 March in a 2–1 loss away to Oxford United, and he made six more appearances.[11] At the end of a 2014–15 season in which Middlesbrough's under-21s won the U21 Premier League Second Division title and added the North Riding Senior Cup, beating Guisborough Town in the final, Atkinson was not offered a new contract.[14]
On 4 June 2015, Atkinson signed a short-term deal with Carlisle United.[7] Six months later, he extended his contract until June 2017.[15]
On 1 December 2016, Atkinson joined Blyth Spartans on loan for a month.[16] The loan was initially extended, and then made permanent when Atkinson left Carlisle by mutual consent.[17] He also spent time playing in Iceland for ÍBV, with which he won the 2017 Icelandic Cup and played in the UEFA Europa League.[18][19]
