Tom Atcheson
.jpg) Atcheson in 2026. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tom Joseph Atcheson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 September 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Blackpool, England | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Number | 48 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2017–2023 | Blackburn Rovers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Blackburn Rovers | 14 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Marine (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023 | Northern Ireland U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024 | Northern Ireland U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Northern Ireland U19 | 8 | (0) |
| 2025– | Northern Ireland U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 2026– | Northern Ireland | 2 | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:21, 2 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 20:00, 4 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Tom Joseph Atcheson (born 22 September 2006) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers and the Northern Ireland national team.[2]
Club career
[edit]Atcheson was born in Blackpool, England and attended Rossall School in nearby Fleetwood.[3] He joined Blackburn Rovers at under-12 level.[4] He made his senior debut in the EFL Cup against Harrogate Town and also featured for the club in the FA Cup against Wrexham during the 2023–24 season.[5] On 29 February 2023, he signed his first professional contract with Blackburn until 2026.[6]
He spent time on loan at Marine during the 2024–25 season.[7] In November 2024, he signed a new four-year contract with Blackburn.[4]
On 20 December 2025, he debuted in the EFL Championship with Blackburn in a 2–0 win over Millwall.[8]
International career
[edit]A Northern Ireland youth international, qualifying through his grandparents, he featured for Northern Ireland U19 at the European U19 Championships in 2024.[9][10]
Atcheson earned his first senior call-up to the Northern Ireland national team as an injury replacement for Daniel Ballard, with his Blackburn Rovers manager Michael O'Neill selecting him ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off against Italy.[11] He made his senior debut on 31 March 2026 as an 80th minute substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw with Wales at Cardiff City Stadium.[12]
Atcheson made his full debut in a friendly match against Guinea on 4 June 2026, scoring his first senior goal of the match to secure a 1–0 victory. He was later sent off in the second half after receiving a straight red card.[13][14]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 2 May 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2023–24 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025–26 | EFL Championship | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2026–27 | EFL Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Marine (loan) | 2024–25 | National League North | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
International
[edit]- As of match played 4 June 2026
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 2026 | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 June 2026 | Estadio Municipal de La Línea de la Concepción, La Línea de la Concepción, Spain |  Guinea | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Tom Joseph Atcheson". beIN SPORTS.
- 1 2 "Tom Atcheson". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ "Rossall News". Rossall. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Blackburn Rovers prospect Atcheson signs long-term contract". Lancashire Telegraph. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ "Rovers youngster Atcheson pens new four-year deal". BBC Sport. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/september/29/young-defender-signs-pro-deal/
- ↑ Mail, Harry (7 August 2024). "Blackburn Rovers prospect given green light to head out on loan". The72. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ "Blackburn Rovers hat-trick a reminder of biggest asset and sliding doors moments". Lancashire Telegraph. 22 December 2025.
- ↑ Barnes, Dan (14 July 2024). "Blackburn Rovers duo set for U19 Euros with Northern Ireland". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ Jackson, Elliott (22 July 2024). "Blackburn Rovers starlets' Euros dream comes to an end". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
- ↑ "Ballard out, Atcheson in for Northern Ireland". IFA. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ Pritchard, Dafydd (31 March 2026). "Wales 1-1 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ Gray, Andy. "Northern Ireland 1-0 Guinea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
- ↑ Luney, Graham. "It was far from a perfect night, but Michael O'Neill's young side will use win over Guinea as a building block". Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- 2006 births
- Living people
- Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland men's youth international footballers
- Northern Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
- Northern Ireland men's international footballers
- Men's association football defenders
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- Marine A.F.C. players
- English Football League players
- National League (English football) players
- People educated at Rossall School