Lucas Akins

Akins made his competitive debut for Hamilton in the first game of the new SPL season, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute in a 3–1 home victory over Dundee United at New Douglas Park.

The victory successfully marked the end of Hamilton's 19-year exile from the top flight of Scottish football.

Akins featured predominantly as a substitute during the first half of the season, with seven of his thirteen appearances coming from the substitutes' bench.

Lucas Jordan Jeremiah Akins (born 25 February 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays for EFL League Two club Mansfield Town.

Akins has been deployed in every outfield position during his career, mostly playing as either a winger or striker.

Towards the end of the 2006–07 season, Akins made his professional debut, replacing Luke Beckett as an 87th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw against Northampton Town at Sixfields.

Akins started his career at Huddersfield Town, progressing through the club's youth academy before making his first-team debut in April 2007.

During the 2007–08 season, he was loaned out to Conference Premier club Northwich Victoria for three months.

In April 2007, Huddersfield Town manager Andy Ritchie requested Akins train with the first-team following his "impressive" performances for both the academy and reserve teams.

He earned his first professional contract on 2 May 2007, signing a one-year deal with the club.

Ahead of the 2007–08 season, Akins played regularly in the club's pre-season friendlies, scoring in a victory over Mansfield Town a week before the start of the new season.

He made four appearances during the first two months of the season, all of which were as a substitute.

His appearance as a late substitute in a 4–0 defeat against Walsall on 6 October 2007 ultimately proved to be Akins' last game for the club.

He was sent out on loan to Conference Premier club Northwich Victoria on 23 November 2007, joining the Cheshire team on an initial one-month loan agreement.

A day after signing, on 24 November 2007, Akins started in Northwich's 1–0 home victory over Rushden & Diamonds, the club's first win in 19 games.

Northwich remained unbeaten during his brief loan spell, and his loan deal was subsequently extended by a further month, which manager Dino Maamria described as a "massive boost" for the club.

He scored his first professional goal in the following match, scoring with a shot from just inside the area as Northwich secured a 2–1 away win against rivals Altrincham on 26 December 2007.

During his loan spell with Northwich, Akins made ten appearances, scoring once.

He was released by Huddersfield in the summer of 2008, having made six first-team appearances during his time there.

Akins then joined SPL club Hamilton Academical on a two-year deal in July 2008.

He returned to Huddersfield in February 2008, although he made no further first-team appearances for the club.

Following Andy Ritchie's departure in April 2008, new Huddersfield manager Stan Ternent told Akins that he would not be offered a new deal when his contract expired in June that year.

Akins was consequently released at the end of the season.

During his time at Huddersfield, he made six appearances in all competitions.

In July 2008, Akins went on trial with newly promoted SPL club Hamilton Academical, playing in a number of pre-season matches during the two-week period.

He impressed Hamilton manager Billy Reid enough to earn a two-year contract with the club, signing on a free transfer on 22 July 2008.

He went on to score four times in Hamilton's remaining four pre-season fixtures.

In January 2009, he was loaned out to Partick Thistle for the remainder of the 2008–09 season in order to gain more match experience.

During the following season, he did not play for Hamilton, and was released when his contract expired in May 2010.

He subsequently signed for League One club Tranmere Rovers on a free transfer, playing regularly for two seasons.

In August 2012, Akins joined Stevenage for an undisclosed fee and spent two seasons there.

He signed for Burton Albion in July 2014 and helped the club earn back-to-back promotions from League Two into the Championship.

Akins holds the club record for most appearances (305) and goals scored (65) for Burton in the English Football League.

After eight years at Burton, Akins signed for Mansfield Town in January 2022.

Akins was born in Huddersfield.

His mother originated from Grenada and his father from Carriacou.

From the age of four, he took classes in several forms of dance, including ballet, jazz, and tap.

At the age of 16, he ultimately opted to pursue a career in football, and stopped attending the dance classes.

He attended Kirklees College where he studied sports science.

Akins began his career with his hometown club, Huddersfield Town, finishing as the club's top goalscorer for the under-18 team for successive seasons.