David Atkinson (born 27 April 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Northern League Division One club Shildon. He played in the Football League for Carlisle United.

Atkinson joined Middlesbrough's academy as an under-nine.^[3] He was a member of the Middlesbrough under-15 squad that won the English qualifying competition for the 2007–08 Manchester United Premier Cup,^[4] and took up a two-year scholarship with the club in 2009.^[5] After the first twelve months, he was given his first professional contract, of four years; at that time, he was recovering from a stress fracture in his back,^[4] and his progress was later disrupted by a serious knee injury.^[6] He went on to captain Middlesbrough's under-21 team,^[7] and in the second half of the 2013–14 season, was a regular member of the first-team squad. After eight consecutive Championship matches on the bench, Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka said that Atkinson was training well and was in his thoughts for a debut, but would not force him into a "difficult game" that might adversely affect his confidence.^[8] He remained unused, and in September 2014, still without having played first-team football for Middlesbrough, joined League Two club Hartlepool United on a month's loan.^[9] He lost time to a hamstring injury, the manager who signed him, Colin Cooper, resigned in the middle of his loan spell, and he made no senior appearances.^[10][11]

He spent time on trial with League One club Walsall in February 2015, brought in by manager Dean Smith to check him out ahead of a possible summer signing – according to Smith, "He is someone [Middlesbrough] have thought highly of, but has not quite burst onto the first team scene as they would have liked.^[12] – before signing for Carlisle United of League Two on loan on 26 March.^[13] It was with Carlisle that he finally made his Football League debut, on 28 March in a 2–1 loss away to Oxford United, and he made six more appearances.^[11] At the end of a 2014–15 season in which Middlesbrough's under-21s won the U21 Premier League Second Division title and added the North Riding Senior Cup, beating Guisborough Town in the final, Atkinson was not offered a new contract.^[14]

On 4 June 2015, Atkinson signed a short-term deal with Carlisle United.^[7] Six months later, he extended his contract until June 2017.^[15]

On 1 December 2016, Atkinson joined Blyth Spartans on loan for a month.^[16] The loan was initially extended, and then made permanent when Atkinson left Carlisle by mutual consent.^[17] He also spent time playing in Iceland for ÍBV, with which he won the 2017 Icelandic Cup and played in the UEFA Europa League.^[18][19]

Atkinson joined Darlington for the 2019–20 season,^[20] but ankle ligaments damaged during pre-season restricted his appearances.^[21] He left the club after the abandoned 2020–21 National League North season,^[22][23] and signed for Shildon.^[24]

Atkinson made his debut for the England under-16 team on 28 November 2008.^[25] He played the first half of the 2–0 win against Scotland that confirmed England as winners of that year's Victory Shield.^[26] Although not originally selected for the Montaigu Tournament in 2009, he came into the squad after Nico Yennaris withdrew,^[27] and started two of the three group matches and played the whole of the final, in which England U16 beat Germany on penalties to successfully defend their title.^[25][28]

Atkinson was named in the England under-17 squad for matches against France, Ukraine and hosts Portugal at the Algarve Tournament in February 2010.^[29] He played in two matches to help England finish as runners-up.^[30] He was placed on standby for the England under-18s' friendly against Italy in April 2011, but was not needed.^[31][32]

As of match played 4 March 2023