Ross Atkins

For the BBC World Service presenter, see Ros Atkins.
Ross Atkins

Atkins in 2011
Personal information
Full nameRoss Michael Atkins[1]
Date of birth3 November 1989[2]
Place of birthDerby, England
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Gresley FC
Youth career
2005–2009Alfreton Town
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2014Derby County1(0)
2008→ Southport (loan)4(0)
2010→ Burton Albion (loan)0(0)
2010→ Kidderminster Harriers (loan)10(0)
2010→ Tamworth (loan)15(0)
2010–2011→ Tamworth (loan)14(0)
2011–2012→ Burton Albion (loan)45(0)
2012–2013→ Burton Albion (loan)4(0)
2013–2014→ Alfreton Town (loan)18(0)
2014→ Crawley Town (loan)0(0)
2014–Gresley FC5(0)
National team‡
2006England U181(0)
2007England U191(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:58, 14 November 2013 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:55, 3 May 2011 (UTC)

Ross Michael Atkins (born 3 November 1989) is an English football goalkeeper who currently plays for Northern Premier League Division One South side Gresley FC.

Career

Club career

Born in Derby Atkins came up through the youth system at Championship club Derby County and was sent out on loan to Conference North side Southport on loan on 30 October 2008,[4] he made 5 appearances for Southport, 4 of them in the league (3 starts + 1 substitute appearance), with a Conference League Cup appearance.[5] Atkins was named in the matchday squad for the first time as an unused substitute in Derby's 2–1 win over Coventry in November 2009. Atkins then spent a month on loan at Burton Albion in January 2010 without making an appearance. A second loan spell of the season saw him move to Conference National side Kidderminster Harriers for another month-long spell which was initially extended for the remainder of the season. Atkins made his first team debut and kept a clean sheet for the Harriers in a 3–0 win over Histon and made 13 appearances for the Harriers, playing in both FA Trophy Semi-finals matches against Stevenage Borough, before an injury to first choice Derby keeper Stephen Bywater saw him recalled to act as cover for Saul Deeney for the remaining two games of the season.[6] He signed a new one-year deal with Derby on 23 April 2010.[7]

On 10 August 2010, Atkins agreed to join Conference National side Tamworth on a month's loan,[8] which was later extended until January 2011.[9] After being an ever present in Tamworth's opening 15 games of the season, Atkins was recalled to Derby after injury to Stephen Bywater and Saul Deeney's absence due to compassionate leave left the Derby short of goalkeepers.[10] Following the loan signing for Frank Fielding and the recall of James Severn from Tamworth, Atkins was once again sent on loan to the Conference National side, this time until the end of the season[11] However, in February 2011, Derby were again compromised by fresh injuries to both Stephen Bywater and Saul Deeney and Atkins was again recalled from Tamworth.[12] He mainly played the role of understudy to loan goalkeepers Frank Fielding & Brad Jones, but after some sub-par performances from Jones and criticism by Clough in a 2–0 defeat against Bristol City[13] Clough hinted that he had considered starting Atkins in the game and stated that he was under consideration to start against Reading, the final game of the season.[14] On 7 May 2011, Atkins did make his first team debut in a 2–1 defeat at Reading.[15] Despite the result, Atkins stated that he enjoyed his first team debut.[16] Derby confirmed their intention to offer Atkins a new contract at the club at the end of the 2010–11 season.[17]

During pre-season ahead of the 2011–12 season, Atkins trained with Burton Albion with a with to a possible season long-loan move. After impressing in training and pre-season games, Atkins completed a season-long loan move to Burton Albion on 29 July 2011, with Burton manager Paul Peschisolido praising his efforts in pre-season.[18] Atkins started every Burton Albion game throut the season bar one, when Adam Legzdins also joined on loan from Derby to play in a game against Northampton Town in March 2012, but Atkins returned to the team as Legzdins picked up a thigh injury in training.[19]

At the end of the season, Atkins had a clause activated on his contract which extended his stay at Derby County until the end of the 2012–13 season.[20] He then rejoined Burton on another season-long loan in July 2012.[21] Atkins started the season as first choice, starting in Burton's opening seven games of season, however he was substituted at half time for Dean Lyness in the Football League Trophy game at Coventry City.[22] After this games, Burton signed ex-Port Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson, with Burton manager Gary Rowett being dissatisfied with the performances of Atkins and Dean Lyness.[23] After Tomlinson started ahead of Atkins in a 1–0 win over Rochdale at Spotland on 8 September 2012, Burton assistant manager Kevin Summerfield said that "the biggest difference for me was that we were playing the game in their half and they were defending corners because he [Tomlinson] can kick the ball so far up the pitch".[24] Atkins slipped to third choice behind Tomlinson and Lyness and his loan was terminated early on 15 January 2013.[25]

During the 2012–13 post season, it was reported by the Derby Telegraph that Atkins was close to joining fellow Derbyshire club Alfreton Town on loan.[26] As a result, Atkins contract at Derby was extended to 2014.[27] Atkins season-long loan to Alfreton Town was confirmed on 1 July.[28]

Derby decided to bring Atkins back on 3 January 2014 by activating a recall clause in his season-long loan. On 31 January 2014, Atkins was sent back out on loan again this time to Crawley Town on an emergency loan.[29] He was released by Derby at the end of the season.

Ross joined Northern Premier League Division One South side Gresley FC on 25 September 2014. Atkins made his debut at home on the following Saturday. Gresley FC won 4-2 against Rainworth Miners Welfare.

International career

Atkins has been capped once at under-18 & under-19 level for England in 2006 and 2007 respectively.[30]

Statistics

As of match played 12 November 2013.[31][32][33][34]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derby County 2008–09 Championship 000000— 00
2009–10 000000— 00
2010–11 100000— 10
2011–12 000000— 00
2012–13 000000— 00
2013–14 00000000 00
Total 10000000 10
Southport (loan) 2008–09 Conference North 4000—1[lower-alpha 1]0 50
Burton Albion (loan) 2009–10 League Two 00000000 00
2011–12 45010101[lower-alpha 2]0 480
2012–13 4000201[lower-alpha 2]0 70
Total 490103020 550
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2009–10 Conference Premier 10000—3[lower-alpha 3]0 130
Tamworth (loan) 2010–11 29010—00 300
Alfreton Town (loan) 2013–14 18020—00 200
Gresley FC 2014–15 Northern Premier League Division One South 50000010 60
Career total 1160403080 1300
  1. ↑ Appearance in the Conference League Cup
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Appearance in the Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearances in the FA Trophy

Achievements

References

  1. ↑ "Search 1837 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "Ross Atkins profile". DCFC.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  3. ↑ "Ross Atkins". ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  4. ↑ "Southport FC boss Liam Watson goes on a Ram raid for Derby County keeper". southportvisiter.co.uk. 31 October 2008.
  5. ↑ "2008/09 APPEARANCES". southportfcstats.co.uk. 3 May 2009.
  6. ↑ "Atkins recalled from Kidderminster loan". dcfc.co.uk. 20 April 2010.
  7. ↑ "Keeper Deeney agrees new one-year deal with Rams". thisisderbyshire.co.uk. 23 April 2010.
  8. ↑ "Lambs bring in Derby County keeper". ThisIsTamworth.co.uk. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2010.
  9. ↑ "Tamworth complete Ben Wilkinson deal". BBC Sport. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Atkins Recalled, Severn Goes Out on Loan". dcfc.co.uk. 15 October 2010.
  11. ↑ Matt Panter (11 November 2010). "Lambs set to swoop for former Sheffield Wednesday striker". ThisIsTamworth.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Atkins Recalled From Tamworth". dcfc.co.uk. 23 February 2011.
  13. ↑ "Clough bemoans Jones error". skysports.com. 30 April 2011.
  14. ↑ "Ross in line to face Royals as Clough plans a youthful look for last game". thisisderbyshire.co.uk. 5 May 2011.
  15. ↑ "Reading 2 – 1 Derby". BBC Sport. 7 May 2011.
  16. ↑ "Atkins settles in to enjoy his Derby debut in every way but the result". thisisderbyshire.co.uk. 9 May 2011.
  17. ↑ "Derby Confirm Retained List". dcfc.co.uk. 11 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Burton take Derby keeper Ross Atkins on loan". BBC Sport. 29 July 2011.
  19. ↑ "Legzdins back with Rams". Eurosport Yahoo. 17 April 2011.
  20. ↑ "Rams Confirm Retained List". dcfc.co.uk. 13 May 2012.
  21. ↑ "Burton Albion sign keepers Ross Atkins and Lyness". BBC Sport. 27 July 2012.
  22. ↑ "Coventry 0 – 0 Burton". BBC Sport. 4 September 2012.
  23. ↑ Page, Rex (7 September 2012). "Albion bring back keeper Tomlinson". Burton Mail. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  24. ↑ "Rochdale 0 – 1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  25. ↑ "Ross back with Rams". Eurosport Yahoo. 15 January 2013.
  26. ↑ "Rams will listen to offers for Fielding and Legzdins". thisisderbyshire.co.uk. 8 May 2013.
  27. ↑ "New deals for quartet as Rams confirm their retained list". Derby Evening Telegraph. 22 May 2013.
  28. ↑ "Atkins Joins Alfreton On Loan". dcfc.co.uk. 1 July 2013.
  29. ↑ "Reds sign Atkins". Crawley Town FC. 31 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Ross Atkins". thefa.com. 3 May 2011.
  31. ↑ "Ross Atkins career statistics 2009–". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  32. ↑ "Ross Atkins career statistics 2010–2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  33. ↑ "Ross Atkins". FootballDatabase.eu. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  34. ↑ "R. Atkins". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ross Atkins.