Robert Atkinson (footballer, born 1998) explained

Robert Atkinson
Fullname:Robert Philip Atkinson[1]
Birth Date:13 July 1998
Birth Place:Chesterfield, England
Height:1.93m (06.33feet)
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Bristol City
Clubnumber:5
Youthclubs1:Cannes
Years1:2016–2017
Clubs1:Basingstoke Town
Caps1:30
Goals1:2
Years2:2017–2019
Clubs2:Fulham
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Braintree Town (loan)
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2020
Clubs4:Eastleigh
Caps4:20
Goals4:1
Years5:2020–2021
Clubs5:Oxford United
Caps5:39
Goals5:1
Years6:2020
Clubs6:Eastleigh (loan)
Caps6:4
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–
Caps7:60
Goals7:6
Club-Update:5 March 2023 (UTC)

Robert Philip Atkinson (born 13 July 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Bristol City.

After playing youth football with AS Cannes, he started his senior career with Basingstoke Town in 2016, before signing for Fulham in 2017. He had a loan spell with Braintree Town in 2019, and joined Eastleigh on a permanent basis later that year. He joined Oxford United in January 2020, and Bristol City in July 2021.

Club career

Atkinson was born in Chesterfield, and spent much of his youth in France, playing for the academy of AS Cannes.[2] He played for Knaphill U18s and first team before starting his senior football career at Basingstoke Town in the 2016–17 season, where he made thirty league appearances, scoring twice.[3] He joined Fulham in September 2017 for a fee of £30,000 after a trial period with the club; he initially played for the club's under-23 side. He joined Braintree Town on loan in January 2019,[4] and made 15 appearances for the club.

In June 2019, he signed for National League side Eastleigh, making 24 appearances in total for the Spitfires and impressing with the National League side.[5]

Oxford United

In January 2020, he signed for League One side Oxford United for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year contract, though he returned to Eastleigh on loan until the end of the season as part of the deal.[6] He was recalled by Oxford United in February 2020 as a result of an injury to John Mousinho and a suspension for Robert Dickie.[7] He made his professional debut on 5 October 2020, in a 1–1 EFL Cup draw with AFC Wimbledon, in which Oxford won on penalties.[8] He scored his first league goal, and his first goal for Oxford, in a 4–1 home victory over Shrewsbury Town on 13 April 2021.[9] Atkinson had a successful 2020–21 season, scoring once in 39 league appearances as the club finished 6th, qualifying for the play-offs,[10] with Atkinson named in the EFL League One Team of the Season.[11] Despite a goal for Atkinson in the play-off semi-final second leg against Blackpool, the club were eliminated from the play-offs after a 6–3 aggregate defeat.

Bristol City

Atkinson signed for Bristol City for an undisclosed seven-figure fee in July 2021.[12] On 28 April 2023, it was announced that Atkinson had signed a new three-year deal with Bristol City.[13]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Basingstoke Town2016–17Southern League Premier Division3022070392
Fulham2017–18Championship0000000000
2018–19Premier League0000000000
Total0000000000
Braintree Town (loan)2018–19National League1500000150
Eastleigh2019–20National League2016000261
Oxford United2019–20League One0000000000
2020–21League One391001041442
Total391001041442
Eastleigh (loan)2019–20National League40000040
Bristol City2021–22Championship3421000352
Career total142690101111637

Honours

Individual

2020–21 League One[14]

2020–21

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Oxford United . 6 October 2020 . English Football League . 51.
  2. Web site: 6 September 2017 . Atkinson signs . 6 October 2020 . fulhamfc.com . Fulham F.C..
  3. Web site: Robert Atkinson . 6 October 2020 . www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk . Aylesbury United F.C..
  4. News: Spurgeon . Simon . 5 January 2019 . Another shutout on the road earns Braintree a point . Braintree and Witham Times . 6 October 2020.
  5. News: 14 June 2019 . Eastleigh make former player of the year their fifth signing of the summer . Daily Echo . 6 October 2020.
  6. News: Pritchard . David . 9 January 2020 . Rob Atkinson becomes Oxford United's fourth signing in two days . Oxford Mail . 6 October 2020.
  7. News: Pritchard . David . 24 February 2020 . Oxford United recall Rob Atkinson from Eastleigh loan . Oxford Mail . 6 October 2020.
  8. News: Pritchard . David . 7 September 2020 . Oxford United duo singled out for special praise by boss Karl Robinson . en . Oxford Mail . 6 October 2020.
  9. News: Roberts . James . 14 April 2021 . Oxford United's Rob Atkinson scores first professional goal . en . Oxford Mail . 2021-05-29.
  10. Web site: League One table 2020/21 season . 2021-05-29 . Sky Sports.
  11. Web site: Football Manager EFL Team of the Season line-ups announced . . 24 April 2022 . 25 April 2022 .
  12. Web site: Rob Atkinson: Bristol City sign Oxford United centre-back for undisclosed fee. BBC Sport. 3 July 2021. 11 October 2021.
  13. News: Atkinson signs new three-year Bristol City deal . 2024-02-08 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  14. News: Norwich City dominate with six players in PFA Championship team of the year . BBC Sport . 3 June 2021 . 15 January 2023.