Mike Atkinson Explained

Mike Atkinson
Fullname:Michael Thomas Atkinson[1]
Birth Date:2 December 1994[2]
Birth Place:York, England
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)
Position:Right-back / Midfielder
Currentclub:North Leigh
Youthyears1:–2013
Youthclubs1:York City
Years1:2013
Clubs1:York City
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2013
Clubs2:Farsley (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2013
Clubs3:Northallerton Town (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2013
Clubs4:Scarborough Athletic (loan)
Years5:2013–2014
Clubs5:Scarborough Athletic
Years6:2014
Clubs6:Selby Town
Years7:2018
Clubs7:Oxford City
Caps7:2
Goals7:0
Years8:2019–
Clubs8:North Leigh
Caps8:6
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:2017–
Nationalteam1:Belize
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:19:04, 10 June 2021 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:19:04, 10 June 2021 (UTC)

Michael Thomas Atkinson (born 2 December 1994) is a footballer who plays as a right-back or midfielder for club North Leigh and the Belize national team.

Early life

Atkinson was born in York[3] and attended Archbishop Holgate's School.[4]

Club career

York City

He played for York Schoolboys[5] before joining York City's youth system.[6] In March 2013, he joined Northern Premier League Division One North club Farsley on loan, making his debut on 30 March when starting a 2–1 away win over Ramsbottom United. He finished the loan with two appearances.

Atkinson signed a one-year professional contract with York in June 2013.[3] [7] His first and only involvement with the first team came as an unused substitute in a 0–0 home draw with Hartlepool United on 17 August. He joined Northern League Division Two club Northallerton Town in September 2013 on a one-month loan.[8] He made only one appearance, starting in a 4–2 home defeat to Chester-le-Street Town on 28 September, and York manager Nigel Worthington wanted to loan him to a club in a higher division.[8]

Non-League

Atkinson joined Northern Premier League Division One South club Scarborough Athletic on 8 November 2013 on a short-term loan,[9] signing permanently on 19 December[10] after being released by York.[11] He signed for Northern Counties East League Division One club Selby Town in January 2014.[12]

Atkinson signed for National League South club Oxford City in July 2018 after a successful trial.[13] He made his debut as an 84th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw away to Weston-super-Mare on 25 August.[14] He finished his time at the club with two appearances.

Atkinson signed for Southern League Division One Central club North Leigh in December 2019,[15] making his debut on 26 December when starting in a 3–0 home win over Didcot Town.[16] He finished the season, which ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with four appearances,[17] and signed a new contract with the club in July 2020.[18] He made three appearances in a second successive season to be ended prematurely due to the pandemic.[19]

International career

Atkinson is eligible to represent Belize at international level through his mother[4] and received his first call-up for the Belize national team when being named in their squad for the 2017 Copa Centroamericana.[20] He made his debut as a 59th-minute substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Costa Rica on 15 January 2017.[21] He made his first start two days later in Belize's 3–1 loss to El Salvador, in which he was substituted on 47 minutes.[22] Atkinson finished the 2017 Copa Centroamericana with two appearances as Belize were eliminated after finishing bottom in the standings.[23]

Style of play

Atkinson plays as a right-back or midfielder.[24]

Personal life

Atkinson pursued a career as a physical training instructor in the Royal Air Force (RAF), starting the joining process in 2014, and has played for the RAF football team.[4]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
York City2012–13League Two0000000000
2013–14League Two000000
Total0000000000
Farsley (loan)2012–13[25] Northern Premier League Division One North2020
Northallerton Town (loan)2013–14[26] Northern League Division Two1010
Oxford City2018–19[27] [28] National League South20000020
North Leigh2019–20[29] Southern League Division One Central400040
2020–21[30] Southern League Division One Central20001030
Total6000001070
Career total110000010120

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belize201720
201830
202110
Total60

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13 . The Football League . 74 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140802074454/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/4e/bd/0%2C%2C10794~179534%2C00.pdf . 2 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Mike Atkinson . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 13 June 2018.
  3. Web site: Player profile: Mike Atkinson . York City F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20131104095752/http://www.yorkcityfootballclub.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=512387&tcmuri=896239 . 4 November 2013.
  4. News: Former York City academy graduate Mike Atkinson makes international debut for Belize at Copa Centroamericana . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 28 January 2017 . 28 January 2017.
  5. News: Iron Mike inspires U15s fightback . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 19 December 2009 . 17 January 2017.
  6. News: Youth club leaps into reckoning . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 7 September 2013 . 17 January 2017.
  7. News: Level playing field for York City's first-year professionals . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 21 June 2013 . 17 January 2017.
  8. News: Nigel Worthington extends Elliott Whitehouse loan stay . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 11 October 2013 . 17 January 2017.
  9. Web site: Chasetown preview and new signing . Scarborough Athletic F.C. . 8 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140405175959/http://www.scarboroughathletic.com/article.php?article=NDk0Mg . 5 April 2014.
  10. News: Hard-earned win keeps run going . Rudy . Funk . The Scarborough News . 19 December 2013 . 13 June 2018.
  11. News: York City poised to lose Burnley loan ace Luke O'Neill in January . Dave . Flett . The Press . York . 20 December 2013 . 17 January 2017.
  12. News: Selby Town boss Jimmy Reid rings changes . Steve . Carroll . The Press . York . 24 January 2014 . 10 June 2021.
  13. News: Luke Ruddick, Kyran Wiltshire, Mike Atkinson and Eze Ibrahim sign for Oxford City . Jack . Johnson . Oxford Mail . 25 July 2018 . 16 November 2018.
  14. Web site: Weston-super-Mare vs. Oxford City 1–1: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 10 June 2021.
  15. Web site: Millers sign international defender . Edward . Martin . North Leigh F.C. . 27 December 2019 . 10 June 2021 . Pitchero.
  16. Web site: North Leigh 3–0 Didcot Town: Line-up . North Leigh F.C. . 10 June 2021 . Pitchero.
  17. News: Coronavirus: All football below National League to end . BBC Sport . 26 March 2020 . 10 June 2021.
  18. Web site: International midfielder Mike Atkinson re-signs . Edward . Martin . North Leigh F.C. . 11 July 2020 . 10 June 2021 . Pitchero.
  19. News: Non-league football: Steps three to six curtailed for second season . BBC Sport . 24 February 2021 . 10 June 2021.
  20. News: Belize selects team for Copa Centroamericana . 7 News Belize . 5 January 2017 . 17 January 2017.
  21. Web site: Belize vs. Costa Rica 0–3: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 10 June 2021.
  22. Web site: El Salvador vs. Belize 3–1: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 10 June 2021.
  23. Web site: Copa Centroamericana: 2017 Panama: Tables . Soccerway . Perform Group . 13 June 2018.
  24. News: Reece Kelly released by York City . The Press . York . 26 April 2013 . 17 January 2017.
  25. Web site: Super-sub Gareth Grant wins it for Farsley AFC at Ramsbottom United . James . Grayson . Farsley Celtic F.C. . 30 March 2013 . 17 January 2017 . Pitchero.
    Web site: Harrogate Railway leave Throstle Nest with three points . James . Grayson . Farsley Celtic F.C. . 1 April 2013 . 17 January 2017 . Pitchero.
  26. Web site: 2013–2014 season match reports . Northallerton Town F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074632/http://www.northallertontownfc.net/reports/matchreportmenu.asp . 7 April 2014.
  27. Web site: M. Atkinson: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 10 June 2021.
  28. For FA Cup second qualifying round: News: Weekend reports from Emirates FA Cup and Evo-Stik South League . Oxford Mail . 24 September 2018 . 16 November 2018.
    For FA Cup third qualifying round: News: Kabongo Tshimanga hat-trick gives Oxford City FA Cup win . Oxford Mail . 8 October 2018 . 16 November 2018.
  29. Web site: Mike Atkinson: 2019/20 . North Leigh F.C. . 10 June 2021 . Pitchero.
  30. Web site: Mike Atkinson . Aylesbury United F.C. . 10 June 2021.