Paul Atkinson (footballer, born 1966)

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.[3] 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 was forced to retire from professional football on medical advice in January 1991.

Paul Atkinson
Personal information
Full name Paul Atkinson[1]
Date of birth (1966-01-19) 19 January 1966[1]
Place of birth Chester-le-Street, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1981–1983 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1988 Sunderland 60 (5)
1988–1991 Port Vale 4 (3)
1989 → Stafford Rangers (loan) 0 (0)
1990 → Hartlepool United (loan) 11 (1)
Gateshead 0 (0)
Total 75 (9)
National team
1982–1985 England Youth 18 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Atkinson began his career at Sunderland, winning 18 caps for the England youth-team between 1982 and 1985.[2] He made his first-team debut at home to Norwich City on 27 August 1983.[2] Alan Durban's "Black Cats" 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.[2] Smith claimed Atkinson squandered his natural talents by overeating junk food.[4]

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

Style of play

Atkinson was a speedy midfielder.[2]

Statistics

Source:[5]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland 1983–84 First Division 81000081
1984–85 First Division 910010100
1985–86 Second Division 1303020150
1986–87 Second Division 50004090
1987–88 Third Division 2132240275
Total 60552110767
Port Vale 1988–89 Third Division 43002063
1989–90 Second Division 00000000
1990–91 Second Division 00000000
Total 43002063
Hartlepool United (loan) 1989–90 Fourth Division 110000111
Career total 759521309311

Honours
Sunderland

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 11. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Dykes, Garth; Lamming, Doug (2000). All the Lads: A Complete Who's Who of Sunderland AFC. Great Britain. p. 27. ISBN 9781899538157.
  3. Kent, Jeff (1989). Port Vale Promotion Chronicle 1988-1989: Back to Where We Once Belonged!. Witan Books. p. 13. ISBN 0-9508981-3-9.
  4. Smith, Denis (2008), Just One of Seven, Know The Score Books, p. 202, ISBN 978-1-84818-504-3
  5. Paul Atkinson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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