Atkinson's father Percy played for Norwood Football Club in the South Australian competition, while his brother Ted played for North Melbourne Football Club and his son John played with Fitzroy Football Club.

When the VFA went into recess, Atkinson crossed to the Carlton Football Club on a wartime permit, and played there for three years from 1942 until 1944, stepping up as club interim captain in 1944.

After the wartime permits system concluded, Atkinson returned to Coburg as captain in 1945, leading the club for two seasons; he played a total of 116 games for Coburg across his career.

[3] He was cleared to Northcote in 1947, and played one season there before switching to country football with St. James in the Benalla Tungamah Football League, playing in their 1948 premiership.

This Australian rules football biography of a person born in 1913 is a stub.