904 Will Atkinson

Biography

Will Atkinson was a Driffield-born midfielder that came through the City youth ranks in the mid-2000s, one of a very few players to make anything like the grade during a spell when a weak youth setup coincided with elevation to the Premier League and restricted chances for young players.  Will made his senior bow in 2007 in the FA Cup, and made no further appearances for over two years.  As City slid out of the top flight Atkinson had some late season games, scoring his only City goal at Wigan.  He began the following season with sporadic appearances but fell out of favour as Nigel Pearson assembled a new squad and added to his previous loan spells in the lower leagues.

In 2012 Atkinson signed for Bradford City, a year later he moved again to Southend United and was reunited with former City boss Phil Brown.  After four years at Roots Hall Will joined Mansfield Town in 2017 and played a full season, but started 2018/19 out of the first team scene and left the following summer. In November 2019 he signed a short term contract with Port Vale which came to an end in June 2020.  In November 2020 he signed for Alfreton Town, who were managed by former North Ferriby United boss Billy Heath, and made 12 appearances.  In August 2021 Atkinson was once again reunited with Phil Brown at Southend United, now competing in the Conference National League, though Brown only managed to keep his job until October 2021.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 14 October 1988, Driffield
Hull City First Game: 5 January 2008, Plymouth Argyle A (FA Cup Third Round), 19 years, 83 days old
Hull City Final Game: 28 September 2010, Burnley A (Championship), 21 years, 349 days old

Clubs

Hull City (2006-2012), Port Vale (2007, loan), Mansfield Town (2008, loan), Rochdale (2009-2010, loan), Rotherham United (2010-2011, loan), Rochdale (2011, loan), Plymouth Argyle (2011-2012, loan), Bradford City (2012, loan), Bradford City (2012-2013), Southend United (2013-2017), Mansfield Town (2017-2019), Port Vale (2019-2020), Alfreton Town (2020-current)

Hull City Record

Career: 8 apps, 1 goals