Bob Atkins
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Gary Atkins | ||
| Date of birth | 16 October 1962 | ||
| Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1978–1980 | Leicester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1982 | Enderby Town | 12 | (172) |
| 1982–1985 | Sheffield United | 40 | (3) |
| 1985–1990 | Preston North End | 200 | (5) |
| – | Total | 252 | (180 ) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
|||
Robert Gary Atkins (born 16 October 1962 in Leicester) is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Sheffield United and Preston North End.
Atkins was originally on the books of Leicester City whom he joined straight from school. He was however released by City without playing a first team game and for a while dropped down into non-league football with Enderby Town (later Leicester United ). It was while playing for Enderby that Sheffield United spotted him and after an initial trial period the 20-year-old Atkins signed a permanent deal with The Blades.
In two and a half years at Bramall Lane Bob played 40 league games for United scoring 3 goals but midway through the 1984-85 season he was offered along with Gary Brazil the chance to go on loan to Preston North End with the possibility of making the move permanent.
At the end of a season that saw Preston relegated Atkins along with Brazil signed permanently for the club for a combined fee of £25,000. With Preston now in the Fourth Division (now Football League Two )Bob was beginning to find his feet. However although originally a midfielder Atkins who stood at 6'2 started finding himself due to injuries playing more frequently as a centre back. It was here that Bob really started to shine.Given the nickname "Skillful Bob" by the fans due to his ability to bring the ball out of defence and look for a passing option rather than "hoof" it as many lower league defenders did he was a mainstay and a rare sign of hope in what turned out to be Preston's worst ever campaign with the club finishing 91st in the Football league.
...
Wikipedia