Paul Graham Atkinson (born 14 August 1961) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a winger. He appeared in the 1984 FA Cup Final with Watford.
As a youth, Atkinson represented both the Leeds Schoolboys and Yorkshire Schoolboys teams before joining Oldham Athletic as an apprentice in 1977. He was given his first professional contract two years later and made his senior debut on 18 August 1979, scoring in the 2–3 defeat away at Newcastle United.[1] He became a first-team regular for Oldham over the following four seasons and scored a total of 11 goals in 143 league matches for the club.[2] In July 1983, Atkinson was signed by Watford manager Graham Taylor for a transfer fee of £175,000. A broken ankle sustained in pre-season delayed his debut in the First Division. When he returned to action later in the season, he failed to hold down a regular place in the team and played only 11 league games. Atkinson's last appearance for Watford came on 19 May 1984, coming on as a second-half substitute for Neil Price in the 0–2 defeat to Everton in the 1984 FA Cup Final. He spent one more season with the club but did not make a first-team appearance and left in August 1985, returning to Oldham for a fee of £30,000.[1]
Atkinson was not a regular starter during his second spell at Oldham, playing 33 league matches over the following three seasons.[2] He was loaned out three times during the 1986–87 campaign; he joined Fourth Division side Swansea City in December 1986, scoring once in six appearances. He later had a one-month loan spell at Bolton Wanderers before returning to Swansea City in March 1987 for the remainder of the season.[1] Atkinson was released by Oldham in the summer of 1988 and subsequently signed for Burnley. On his second league appearance for the Lancashire side, he scored a goal in the 6–0 Fourth Division win against York City. He spent two seasons with Burnley, playing 35 games in all competitions, four of them as a substitute, before leaving the club at the end of the 1989–90 season.[1] Atkinson then moved into non-League football and had a spell with Northwich Victoria.
^ abcdeSimpson, Ray (1996). The Clarets Collection 1946–1996. Burnley FC. pp. 18–19. ISBN0-9521799-0-3.
^ ab"Paul Atkinson player profile". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
April 14, 2024
paul, atkinson, footballer, born, 1961, paul, graham, atkinson, born, august, 1961, english, retired, professional, footballer, played, winger, appeared, 1984, final, with, watford, paul, atkinsonpersonal, informationfull, namepaul, graham, atkinsondate, birth. Paul Graham Atkinson born 14 August 1961 is an English retired professional footballer who played as a winger He appeared in the 1984 FA Cup Final with Watford Paul AtkinsonPersonal informationFull namePaul Graham AtkinsonDate of birth 1961 08 14 14 August 1961 age 62 Place of birthOtley EnglandHeight5 ft 10 in 1 78 m 1 Position s WingerYouth career1977 1979Oldham AthleticSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1979 1983Oldham Athletic143 11 1983 1984Watford11 0 1984 1988Oldham Athletic33 1 1986 1987 Swansea City loan 6 1 1987 Bolton Wanderers loan 3 0 1987 Swansea City loan 12 2 1988 1990Burnley22 1 Northwich Victoria Total230 16 Club domestic league appearances and goalsCareer editAs a youth Atkinson represented both the Leeds Schoolboys and Yorkshire Schoolboys teams before joining Oldham Athletic as an apprentice in 1977 He was given his first professional contract two years later and made his senior debut on 18 August 1979 scoring in the 2 3 defeat away at Newcastle United 1 He became a first team regular for Oldham over the following four seasons and scored a total of 11 goals in 143 league matches for the club 2 In July 1983 Atkinson was signed by Watford manager Graham Taylor for a transfer fee of 175 000 A broken ankle sustained in pre season delayed his debut in the First Division When he returned to action later in the season he failed to hold down a regular place in the team and played only 11 league games Atkinson s last appearance for Watford came on 19 May 1984 coming on as a second half substitute for Neil Price in the 0 2 defeat to Everton in the 1984 FA Cup Final He spent one more season with the club but did not make a first team appearance and left in August 1985 returning to Oldham for a fee of 30 000 1 Atkinson was not a regular starter during his second spell at Oldham playing 33 league matches over the following three seasons 2 He was loaned out three times during the 1986 87 campaign he joined Fourth Division side Swansea City in December 1986 scoring once in six appearances He later had a one month loan spell at Bolton Wanderers before returning to Swansea City in March 1987 for the remainder of the season 1 Atkinson was released by Oldham in the summer of 1988 and subsequently signed for Burnley On his second league appearance for the Lancashire side he scored a goal in the 6 0 Fourth Division win against York City He spent two seasons with Burnley playing 35 games in all competitions four of them as a substitute before leaving the club at the end of the 1989 90 season 1 Atkinson then moved into non League football and had a spell with Northwich Victoria Honours editWatford FA Cup runner up 1983 84References edit a b c d e Simpson Ray 1996 The Clarets Collection 1946 1996 Burnley FC pp 18 19 ISBN 0 9521799 0 3 a b Paul Atkinson player profile Post War English amp Scottish Football League A Z Player s Transfer Database Retrieved 6 September 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Atkinson footballer born 1961 amp oldid 1184872945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
