Rob Atkinson

For the footballer born in 1998, see Robert Atkinson (footballer, born 1998). For the surgeon, see Rob Atkinson (surgeon). For other people named Robert Atkinson, see Robert Atkinson (disambiguation).
Rob Atkinson
Atkinson playing for Accrington Stanley in 2014
Personal information
Full name Robert Guy Atkinson[1]
Date of birth (1987-04-29) 29 April 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth North Ferriby, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
–2004 Barnsley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Barnsley 8 (0)
2005–2006 → Scarborough (loan) 22 (0)
2006 → Halifax Town (loan) 4 (2)
2007 → Rochdale (loan) 2 (0)
2007–2008 → Grimsby Town (loan) 24 (1)
2008–2009 → Grimsby Town (loan) 9 (1)
2009 → Grimsby Town (loan) 1 (0)
2009–2011 Grimsby Town 83 (7)
2011–2013 Fleetwood Town 35 (1)
2012 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 12 (0)
2013–2015 Accrington Stanley 59 (3)
2015–2018 Guiseley 72 (7)
2018 → Bradford Park Avenue (loan) 8 (0)
2018–2019 Spennymoor Town 23 (3)
2019–2021 Grantham Town 11 (2)
Total 373 (27)
International career
2011 England C 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:36, 7 November 2019 (UTC)

Robert Guy Atkinson (born 29 April 1987) is an English former professional footballer who plays as a defender.

Atkinson started his professional career with Barnsley in 2004, and then spent time on loan with Scarborough, Halifax Town, Rochdale and Grimsby Town. Following three loan spells with Grimsby he joined the club on a permanent basis in 2009 before signing with Fleetwood Town two years later. He later played for Accrington Stanley before dropping into Non-League football in 2015 and has since turned out for Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue, Spennymoor Town and Grantham Town. He has also been capped twice by the England C football team.

Club career

Barnsley

Born in North Ferriby, East Riding of Yorkshire,[1] Atkinson has come through the youth ranks with Barnsley, making his debut on 6 March 2004. In the 2005–06 season he had a six-month loan spell with Scarborough playing 22 league games. He was also loaned out to Halifax Town during the 2006–07 season. After some impressive performances, Atkinson was recalled to Barnsley following injuries to first team players Bobby Hassell, Paul Reid and Antony Kay. Atkinson played his first full game for the Oakwell based club on Boxing Day 2006, in a 1–0 win over Burnley. In this game, Atkinson's performance earned him the man of the match award.

Grimsby Town

Rob Atkinson was initially signed for Grimsby Town on loan in November 2007 by Alan Buckley. He was drafted in as a covering defender, and was slotted in at centre back next to Nick Fenton. He scored his first goal for the club against Chester City on 1 January 2008. Atkinson went on to play he full 90 minutes at Wembley Stadium, in the Football League Trophy final defeat against MK Dons. Atkinson was singled out by Grimsby fans, as one of their more stronger players in the 2007–08 season, and in May 2008, Buckley revealed his desire to bring Atkinson back to the club on loan or possibly on a permanent deal. However at the time, nothing came of the transfer, and after Buckley signed centre backs Richard Hope and Matthew Heywood in pre-season, the Atkinson deal became dead in the water. On 31 October 2008 he re-signed for Grimsby on another loan deal, initially until January 2009. Town who were now managed by Mike Newell had signed Atkinson along with Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala, who was another former Grimsby player. Both transfers were made in the space of two days. Atkinson made his second debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Darlington when he came on as a substitute for skipper Matthew Heywood in the 30th minute of play. In January 2009 Rob's loan contract with Grimsby expired and he returned to Barnsley. However a day later he joined the club for a third spell, signing on an emergency loan deal to play the league fixture with Morecambe on 10 January. A deal was struck between Barnsley and Grimsby for a permanent switch that was completed two days later. Rob went on to cement a first team place at centre back alongside youngster Ryan Bennett, who had become the club's new captain, replacing Matt Heywood, who had been dropped due to poor performances. Atkinson and Bennett both were integral parts of the Grimsby squad that helped stave off relegation out of the Football League. During the 2009–10 season The Mariners suffered an eventual relegation, bowing out on the final day of the season.

Atkinson remained with Grimsby for the 2010–11 season, which was the club's first season in Non-League football in over 100 years. Following a pre-season injury, Darran Kempson, Scott Garner and Steven Watt shared out the two centre half positions until Atkinson returned and was preferred at the back alongside Kempson. He would also be appointed the club's interim captain when club captain Lee Peacock was not selected in the team, but would go on to depart Grimsby in the summer despite being offered a fresh contract by the club's new managerial duo of Rob Scott and Paul Hurst.

Fleetwood Town

Despite being offered a new contract with Grimsby, Atkinson opted to transfer to fellow Conference Premier side Fleetwood Town on 10 June 2011.[2] In his first season with the club Fleetwood earned promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history. The following season Atkinson spent time on loan with Accrington Stanley but following a managerial change at Fleetwood he returned to the club and briefly captained the side. It was announced on 7 May 2013, that Fleetwood would not be offering the defender a new contract, and would therefore be released.

Accrington Stanley

On 16 July 2013 Atkinson returned to Accrington, penning a two-year deal.[3]

Non-League

Atkinson joined Guiseley following his release from Stanley. In February 2018 he joined Bradford Park Avenue.[4]

On 1 July 2018 Atkinson signed for National League North side Spennymoor Town.[5] He left the club by the end of the season.[6]

On 3 July 2019, Atkinson joined Grantham Town on a free agent.[7]

International career

On 24 January 2011, Atkinson was called up to the England C squad.[8] Atkinson was again called up for England duty to face Portugal on 19 May 2011 along with fellow Grimsby defender Scott Garner.[9]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 November 2017
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Barnsley 2003–04[10] Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2004–05[11] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2005–06[12] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2006–07[13] Championship 6 0 2 0 0 0 — 8 0
Total 8 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Scarborough (loan) 2005–06[12] Conference National 22 0 0 0 — 0 0 22 0
Halifax Town (loan) 2006–07[13] Conference National 4 2 0 0 — 0 0 4 2
Rochdale (loan) 2007–08[14] League Two 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Grimsby Town (loan) 2007–08[14] League Two 24 1 1 0 0 0 4[a] 0 29 1
Grimsby Town (loan) 2008–09[15] League Two 10 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
Grimsby Town 2008–09[15] League Two 21 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 1
2009–10[16] League Two 37 2 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 41 2
2010–11[17] Conference Premier 25 4 2 0 — 2[b] 0 29 4
Total 83 7 3 0 1 0 4 0 91 7
Fleetwood Town 2011–12[18] Conference Premier 17 1 0 0 — 0 0 17 1
2012–13[19] League Two 18 0 — 0 0 1[a] 0 19 0
Total 35 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 36 1
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2012–13[19] League Two 12 0 1 0 0 0 — 13 0
Accrington Stanley 2013–14[20] League Two 15 0 0 0 2 0 1[a] 0 18 0
2014–15[21] League Two 44 3 4 0 1 0 1[a] 0 50 3
Total 59 3 4 0 3 0 2 0 68 3
Guiseley 2015–16[17] National League 38 5 1 0 — 2[b] 0 41 5
2016–17[17] National League 23 2 2 0 — 0 0 25 2
2017–18[22] National League 11 0 0 0 — 0 0 11 0
Total 72 7 3 0 0 0 2 0 77 7
Career total 331 22 15 0 4 0 13 0 363 22
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Grimsby Town

Fleetwood Town

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ "Fleetwood Town FC News". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Defender Atkinson rejoins Stanley". BBC Sport.
  4. ^ "Guiseley Defender Rob Atkinson Joins on Loan For Remainder of Season". 20 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Experienced defender Atkinson bolsters back line". July 2018.
  6. ^ Moors announce retained list for 2019/20 season, spennymoortownfc.co.uk, 27 May 2019
  7. ^ ROB ATKINSON JOINS THE GINGERBREADS, granthamtownfc.com, 3 July 2019
  8. ^ "Town FC". Grimsby-townfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "Town Pair Set For England Duty". Grimsby-townfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  13. ^ a b "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  14. ^ a b "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  17. ^ a b c Rob Atkinson at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  18. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Games played by Rob Atkinson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  23. ^ Mitchener, Mark (30 March 2008). "Grimsby 0–2 MK Dons". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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