Paddy Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Patrick Darren "Paddy" Atkinson (born May 22, 1970 in Singapore
) is an English
former professional footballer. He is currently player-assistant manager to Paul Baker
at Northern League Division One side Newcastle Benfield
.
, but turned professional on joining Hartlepool United
in July 1988. He played 63 league & cup games scoring 2 goals on his debut at 18 vs Lincoln City. After manager Cyril Knowles died and being involved in a car accident on the way to a game vs Cambridge Utd, Paddy was released at the end of the 1989-90 season.
In May 1990 he joined non-league playing 20 games in the Conference Gateshead
, moving to Newcastle Blue Star
in August 1991 on a 1 month loan period, Barrow
in October 1991 playing 60 games and scoring 10 goals. Then onto Workington
in August 1993 playing 89 games and scoring 17 goals. His form at Workington attracted the attention of higher level clubs where he played in Newcastle United's Reserve Team for 3 seasons under Kevin Keegan. Played 40 games scoring 12 goals. Due to his Singapore Nationality Paddy was asked to play for the National Team of Singapore. Unfortunately this did not materialise as it involved moving. He returned to the Football League
with York City
, who he joined in November 1996 after Keegan abolished the Reserve Team. He left York in August 1998, joining Scarborough
on a free transfer to play for Mick Wadsworth a former England U18 coach.
He was a regular in the Scarborough side the following season, one which ended with Scarborough's relegation to the Conference
. He left after their relegation, playing for Barrow and Blyth Spartans before joining Dumfries
based Scottish
side Queen of the South
in August 2000. He played over 80 league games scoring 6 goals (left back) in 4 seasons. Atkinson picked up a 2nd Division Championship & a Bells League Challenge Cup winners medal alongside players such as Jim Thomson, Andy Aitken
, John O'Neill
, Sean O'Connor
and Peter Weatherson
. Atkinson then returned to Blyth Spartans.
He subsequently played for Durham City before joining Newcastle Benfield (Bay Plastics)
in September 2005.He was the manager at Newcastle Benfield before stepping down to Assistant Manager / 1st Team Coach due to birth of his daughter. He has coached Newcastle Benfield into winning 3 trophies in 3 seasons. Recently the League and Cup double in Angrove Northern League 2008/2009 Season.
Paddy is also currently working as a Higher Officer for Her Majesties Revenue and Customs.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional footballer. He is currently player-assistant manager to Paul Baker
Paul Baker
David Paul Baker is an English former professional footballer.-Playing career:A centre-forward, Baker was a member of the famous Wallsend Boys Club as a youngster, and was subsequently spotted playing for Bishop Auckland, turning professional with Southampton in June 1984 at a cost of £4,000 to...
at Northern League Division One side Newcastle Benfield
Newcastle Benfield (Bay Plastics) F.C.
Newcastle Benfield F.C. is a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. For the 2011–12 season, they are members of the Northern League Division One.- History :...
.
Football career
Paddy Atkinson began his career as a trainee with Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, but turned professional on joining Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in July 1988. He played 63 league & cup games scoring 2 goals on his debut at 18 vs Lincoln City. After manager Cyril Knowles died and being involved in a car accident on the way to a game vs Cambridge Utd, Paddy was released at the end of the 1989-90 season.
In May 1990 he joined non-league playing 20 games in the Conference Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
, moving to Newcastle Blue Star
Newcastle Blue Star F.C.
Newcastle Blue Star F.C. was a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It was established in 1930 and joined the Wearside League in 1973. In 1978, it won the FA Vase. Having won promotion to the Northern Premier League Premier Division at the end of the 2008/09 season via the...
in August 1991 on a 1 month loan period, Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
in October 1991 playing 60 games and scoring 10 goals. Then onto Workington
Workington A.F.C.
Workington A.F.C. is an English football club from Workington, Cumbria. They are in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Borough Park, which has a capacity of 3,101 . The club play in red, and are known locally as the Reds...
in August 1993 playing 89 games and scoring 17 goals. His form at Workington attracted the attention of higher level clubs where he played in Newcastle United's Reserve Team for 3 seasons under Kevin Keegan. Played 40 games scoring 12 goals. Due to his Singapore Nationality Paddy was asked to play for the National Team of Singapore. Unfortunately this did not materialise as it involved moving. He returned to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, who he joined in November 1996 after Keegan abolished the Reserve Team. He left York in August 1998, joining Scarborough
Scarborough F.C.
Scarborough Football Club was an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
on a free transfer to play for Mick Wadsworth a former England U18 coach.
He was a regular in the Scarborough side the following season, one which ended with Scarborough's relegation to the Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. He left after their relegation, playing for Barrow and Blyth Spartans before joining Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
based Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
side Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in August 2000. He played over 80 league games scoring 6 goals (left back) in 4 seasons. Atkinson picked up a 2nd Division Championship & a Bells League Challenge Cup winners medal alongside players such as Jim Thomson, Andy Aitken
Andy Aitken (footballer born 1978)
Andrew "Andy" Robert Aitken is a Scottish professional footballer who made over 300 appearances for Queen of the South. A left sided central defender, he also played for Gretna and Ayr United...
, John O'Neill
John O'Neill (Scottish footballer)
John O'Neill is a Scottish football midfielder, playing for Auchinleck Talbot.O'Neill started his career with amateur club Queens Park, before signing for Celtic in 1994. In his career he had two spells of playing for Dumfries club Queen of the South...
, Sean O'Connor
Sean O'Connor (footballer)
Sean O'Connor is an English professional Association footballer, who currently plays for Annan Athletic.-Early career:...
and Peter Weatherson
Peter Weatherson
Peter Weatherson is an English footballer. He is currently playing for Greenock Morton in the Scottish Football League First Division.-Early years:Weatherson began his career with local non-league club Newcastle Blue Star....
. Atkinson then returned to Blyth Spartans.
He subsequently played for Durham City before joining Newcastle Benfield (Bay Plastics)
Newcastle Benfield (Bay Plastics) F.C.
Newcastle Benfield F.C. is a football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. For the 2011–12 season, they are members of the Northern League Division One.- History :...
in September 2005.He was the manager at Newcastle Benfield before stepping down to Assistant Manager / 1st Team Coach due to birth of his daughter. He has coached Newcastle Benfield into winning 3 trophies in 3 seasons. Recently the League and Cup double in Angrove Northern League 2008/2009 Season.
Paddy is also currently working as a Higher Officer for Her Majesties Revenue and Customs.