Paul Atkinson (footballer, born 1966) explained

Paul Atkinson
Fullname:Paul Atkinson
Birth Date:19 January 1966
Birth Place:Chester-le-Street, England
Height:[1]
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1981–1983
Youthclubs1:Sunderland
Years1:1983–1988
Clubs1:Sunderland
Caps1:60
Goals1:5
Years2:1988–1991
Clubs2:Port Vale
Caps2:4
Goals2:3
Years3:1989
Clubs3:Stafford Rangers (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:1990
Clubs4:Hartlepool United (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Clubs5:Gateshead
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Totalcaps:75
Totalgoals:9
Nationalyears1:1982–1985
Nationalteam1:England Youth
Nationalcaps1:18
Nationalgoals1:0

Paul Atkinson (born 19 January 1966) is an English former footballer who played on the left-side of midfield. He appeared three times for England Youth in a tournament in 1983, and played another five games the following year.[2] He began his career at Sunderland, and helped the "Black Cats" to the Third Division title in 1987–88. He joined Port Vale for a £20,000 fee in June 1988, but soon became blighted by injury. He was loaned out to Stafford Rangers and Hartlepool United to help to regain his fitness, but wasforced to retire from professional football on medical advice in January 1991.

Career

Atkinson began his career at Sunderland, winning 18 caps for the England youth team between 1982 and 1985.[1] He made his first-team debut at home to Norwich City on 27 August 1983.[1] Alan Durban's side went on to post a 13th-place finish in the First Division in 1983–84. The club suffered relegation in the 1984–85 season under the stewardship of Len Ashurst. Lawrie McMenemy then took charge at Roker Park but failed to halt the club's decline, as Sunderland finished 18th in the Second Division in 1985–86, before suffering relation in 1986–87 after defeat to Gillingham in the play-offs. New boss Denis Smith then led the club straight back up as champions of the Third Division in 1987–88.[1] Smith claimed Atkinson squandered his natural talents by overeating junk food.

Atkinson signed for John Rudge's Port Vale in June 1988 for a £20,000 fee.[3] He scored a brace on his debut in a 3–1 win over Preston North End at Deepdale on 27 August.[3] An ankle injury blighted his career however, and loan spells with Stafford Rangers (January 1989) and Cyril Knowles's Hartlepool United (March 1990) failed to revitalise his career.[3] He played six games for the "Valiants" in 1988–89, and eleven Fourth Division games in his loan spell at Victoria Park.[3] He was forced to retire from professional football on medical advice in January 1991.[3]

Style of play

Atkinson was a speedy midfielder.[1]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland1983–84First Division81000081
1984–85First Division910010100
1985–86Second Division1303020150
1986–87Second Division50004090
1987–88Third Division2132240275
Total60552110767
Port Vale1988–89Third Division43002063
1989–90Second Division00000000
1990–91Second Division00000000
Total43002063
Hartlepool United (loan)1989–90Fourth Division110000111
Career total759521309311

Honours

Sunderland

1987–88[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dykes. Garth. Lamming. Doug. All the Lads: A Complete Who's Who of Sunderland AFC. 2000. Great Britain. 9781899538157. 27.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988-1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!. Witan Books. 1989. 13. 0-9508981-3-9.
  3. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 11. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.