Will Atkinson

Hull City

Born in Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, Atkinson started his career as a trainee with Hull City. In December 2006, at the age of 18, he penned a two-and-a-half-year professional deal with the club. In October 2007, he joined caretaker manager Dean Glover's Port Vale in League One for a six-week loan period. He made his senior debut on 13 October, in a 1–0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion at Vale Park. 14 days later he won his first start, in a 2–1 win over Swindon Town. He made a total of four appearances for the "Valiants" before returning to Hull after Lee Sinnott replaced Glover as manager. Upon his return he made one substitute appearance for Hull, in an FA Cup defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 5 January. Later in the month, he joined League Two Mansfield Town on a one-month loan. Mansfield manager Bill Dearden later extended the deal into a further month, and handed Atkinson a total of ten starts and two substitute appearances. He had a quiet 2008–09, not joining any clubs on loan and not making an appearance for the Hull City first-team, as the "Tigers" enjoyed their maiden season in the Premier League. He made his League Cup bow on 25 August 2009 and was replaced by Kevin Kilbane 73 minutes into a 3–1 win over Southend United. In November he joined Rochdale on a month-long loan. The loan was extended after the team went unbeaten in his six games at the club. This run included a 3–0 win over Macclesfield Town on 5 December, in which Atkinson scored…

Atkinson is a central midfielder but is versatile and can play at wide right, wing-back and right-back. Port Vale manager John Askey described him as "a good passer of the ball and an intelligent player."

As of end of the 2025–26 season

Rochdale

Football League Two third-place promotion: 2009–10 Bradford City

Football League Cup runner-up: 2012–13 Football League Two play-offs: 2013 Southend United

Football League Two play-offs: 2015