Bob Atkins - The Preston Years

The Preston Years

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.

The following 1986-87 season was though to be a turning point in both Bob's and Preston's fortunes.With John McGrath now in the Deepdale hot seat North End stormed to promotion with Bob's three pronged defensive partnership with Sam Allardyce and Alex Jones, nicknamed "the solicitors" an absolute rock at the back.Atkins scored one of the goals of the season to equalise from distance away at Crewe on Boxing Day 86.The following three seasons for Atkins were much the same with him missing only a handful of games and turning out some sterling performances,indeed he was named the clubs official player of the year in 1987-88 and was also awarded the club captaincy in 1988-89.