Paddy Atkinson has had a colourful career in the game, but this weekend his only focus is on progression in The FA Vase.
The Whitley Bay boss used to share digs with Alan Shearer and was once recommended for an international call-up by Kevin Keegan, but is now readying his side for their FA Vase First Round Qualifying tie against Willington.
Atkinson spent the early part of his teenage years playing alongside former England captain Shearer for West Brom’s youth team.
Willington v Whitley Bay
FA Vase
First Round Qualifying
Hall Lane, Willington
Winner receive £600 from FA Prize Fund
Shearer notably earned a move to Southampton in 1986 and went on to star for Blackburn and Newcastle at club level and scored a stunning 30 goals from 63 caps for the Three Lions.
Atkinson also secured a big move of his own in 1986, to Sheffield United alongside Clive Mendonca, but things didn’t quite go to plan at Bramall Lane.
However, the left-back received a shock call-up for Singapore – the country of his birth – in 1995 on the advice of ex-England manager Keegan, who was in charge at St James’ Park while Atkinson was playing for Newcastle’s reserves.
It is fair to say to say Atkinson led a peculiar playing career, but the 45-year-old is keen to keep things simple when four-time winners Whitley Bay make the trip to Willington this Saturday.
“We have to show respect to Willington, they will be desperate to win the game but I’m not a manager who looks too much at the opposition, I like to focus on my own team as anything can happen on the day,” he said.
“Having a good recent history in the FA Vase does bring a bit of pressure because other sides tend to raise their game, but every player wants to play at Wembley and we’re no different.”
Shearer was certainly no stranger to Wembley, and Atkinson has fond memories of his former flatmate.
The 2015-16 FA Vase journey ends at Wembley Stadium on 22 May 2016
“Not a lot of people know that Alan spent about 18 months with West Brom, and while we were there we were coached by Nobby Stiles,” added Atkinson.
“There were about five of us who used to get the train down, and back then Alan and I were only small lads.
“I remember on one particular train down to West Brom I had to do a double take because all of a sudden Alan had built up muscle and was hairy. He’d turned into a man at 15 and I was still this skinny teenager and obviously the rest is history.”
Willington have not had the greatest start to their Northern Football League Division Two campaign with just two wins from their opening eight games, but manager Robert Lee has had to contend with a growing absentee list.
Three of his centre-backs will be missing for the clash against the Seahorses, while midfielder Michael Gibson suffered a broken jaw over the weekend.
“Whitley Bay are a good side and it will be hard for us, but we’ll give it 100 per cent ”
Robert Lee Willington manager
Yet Lee knows he has tradition to uphold for a club that counts Stan Cummins and Malcolm Allison among its former managers.
“We’ve had some great former managers, and I try to play local lads to keep that history of the club,” said Lee, who has been managing the Moles for five seasons.
“We’ve got a few lads missing so we’ll have to rejig things a little, but anything can happen on Saturday.
“It has left me with a bit of a headache for the weekend, it has been the worst start to the season I’ve ever had but hopefully it will settle down.
“It should be a good game. Whitley Bay are a good side and it will be hard for us, but we’ll give it 100 per cent on the day and we’re very much looking forward to it.”
