Career
Atkinson played in four Rugby League World Cups (1968, 1970, 1972 and 1975), scoring six tries in total. Championship final appearances
John Atkinson played, and scored a try in Leeds" 9-5 victory over Saint Helens in the Championship final during the 1971-1972 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 May 1972. Challenge Cup final appearances
John Atkinson played Left-wing, id est (that is) number 5, in Leeds" 11-10 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1968 Challenge Cup "Watersplash" final during the 1967-1968 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 11 May 1968, played Left-wing in the 13-16 defeat by Saint Helens in the 1972 Challenge Cup final during the 1971-1972 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1972, and played Left-wing and scored a try in the 16-7 victory over Widnes in the 1977 Challenge Cup final during the 1976-1977 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 7 May 1977.
County Cup final appearances
John Atkinson played Left-wing, id est (that is) number 5, and scored a try in Leeds" 22-11 victory over Castleford in the 1968 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1968-1969 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 19 October 1968, played Left-wing,and scored a try in the 23-7 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1970 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1970-1971 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 21 November 1970, played Left-wing, and scored a try in the 36-9 victory over Dewsbury in the 1972 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1972-1973 season at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 7 October 1972, played Left-wing in the 7-2 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1973 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1973-1974 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 20 October 1973, played Left-wing in the 15-11 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1975 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1975-1976 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 November 1975, played Left-wing in the 15-6 victory over Halifax in the 1979 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1979-1980 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 27 October 1979, and played Left-wing, or according to Rothmans Yearbooks 1990-1991 and 1991-1992, centre, id est (that is) number 4, in the 8-7 victory over Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1980 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1980-1981 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 8 November 1980.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final appearances
John Atkinson played Left-wing, id est (that is) number 5, in Leeds" 9-5 victory over Saint Helens in the 1970 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy final during the 1970-1971 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday 15 December 1970. Player"s Number.6 Trophy final appearances
John Atkinson played Left-wing, id est (that is) number 5, and scored 2-tries in Leeds" 12-7 victory over Salford in the 1972-1973 Player"s Number.6 Trophy final during the 1972-1973 season at Fartown Ground, Huddersfield on Saturday 24 March 1973.
Testimonial match
John Atkinson"s testimonial match at Leeds took place in 1976. Club career
Atkinson began his playing career with Leeds in 1966 and finally left to become player-coach of Carlisle in 1983.
He amassed a total of 401 tries during his career, of which 340 were scored for Leeds.
