Ross Atkins

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, he made 5 appearances for Southport, 4 of them in the league (3 starts + 1 substitute appearance), with a Conference League Cup appearance. 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. He signed a new one-year deal with Derby on 23 April 2010. On 10 August 2010, Atkins agreed to join Conference National side Tamworth on a month's loan, which was later extended until January 2011. 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…

After his playing career ended, Atkins started coaching Derby County's academy. As of 2023 he was working as the lead academy goalkeeping coach. On 14 March 2025 he was announced as Head of Goalkeeping at Wycombe Wanderers.

The Central League Central Division Champions: 2009–10