The title of the next Jamie Vardy is a tag that many would love, as working the way up the non-league ranks is no easy task. University of Sunderland's Captain and Centre Forward Zak Atkinson has been given that tag by many. Atkinson who is currently on loan at his former club Blyth Town from his parent club Blyth Spartans, is slowly making his way his way up the northern league ladder.
Atkinson started this season with Blyth Spartans (shown below), who play their football in the Northern Premier League. After getting the transfer to them from Blyth Town. This came about after Atkinson had what he described as the "best footballing year of his career." He spent all of last season playing in the Northern League Division 2, for newcomers Blyth Town. Atkinson continued to impress, scoring regularly at a level he had played at many times before, the season finished with him becoming the highest scorer in the division and leading Blyth to a respectable 6th place finish. Not only was he impressing on the pitch for Blyth, the striker finished top goalscorer for the university first team, leading them to a BUCS Division title and a BUCS cup final. All these goals did nothing but benefit the talk regarding Atkinson becoming the next Jamie Vardy.
Impressing at university standard with manager Gary Bennett, lead to Bennett organising a trial for Atkinson at many northern league sides including Blyth Spartans.
"The trial at Spartans came about when Gary Bennett contacted me saying that Tom Wade [then Blyth Spartans manager] had been in touch with him asking about me. I had just finished the season as top goal scorer for Blyth Town and had had a good season, so I think he spoke to Gary to get his opinion of me," said Atkinson.
Bennett's recommendation certainly worked out for Atkinson as he managed to impress in his trial and land himself a contract at the Spartans. Still only 21, the forward wants to push himself and test himself at the highest level he can.
This season has been a difficult season for the striker to take. Since his call up to Spartans, he has failed to make an impact in the first team. This has lead to Spartans choosing to send Atkinson out on loan to try get some game time. This meant Atkinson going to join University manager Gary Bennett, at the side he is assistant manager at Bishop Auckland. This is a move Atkinson regrets, as Bishop Auckland centre forward Andrew Johnson, is in the form of his life, scoring 200 goals in just 208 games for the club. With the striker being in such good form, Atkinson struggled to get game time, in order for himself to make an impact at the club.
With Zak desperate for game time in such a frustrating season for the striker. He decided to leave Auckland and go out on loan to his former club Blyth Town, where he had such a successful season the year before. "I wouldn't exactly class this move as a step backwards, as I am still playing football at a competitive level. I'm just hoping by getting this move, I can get back to scoring goals and being fit so when I return back to spartans at the start of next season I am ready to go and make an impact.
If Atkinson shows anything like the form he did for Blyth Town and the University of Sunderland last season, his chance will come soon enough for the Spartans. And who knows, if he starts impressing at this level, maybe another climb of the football league ladder will be attainable… Jamie Vardy? Here's hoping.
