Atkins scored one of the goals of the season to equalise from distance away at Crewe on Boxing Day 1986. 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 club's official player of the year in 1987-88 and was also awarded the club captaincy in 1988–89.
Atkins scored one goal for his team during a match against Crewe on Boxing Day 1986, which helped to equalize the score. He continued to perform well over the next three seasons, missing only a few games and earning recognition as the club's player of the year in 1987-88 and captaincy in 1988–89.