Sam Ricketts
Encyclopedia
Samuel Derek "Sam" Ricketts (born 11 October 1981) is a Welsh international
footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers
. His favoured position is full-back. Although he usually played on the right for previous club Hull City
, he is equally comfortable on the left.
, making 35 first team appearances (with a further 13 as substitute) in all competitions and scoring one goal. During his time at Oxford United he had a brief spell on loan at Nuneaton Borough before being released from his professional contract to sign for Conference National
side Telford United
in the summer of 2003
. His form for Telford led him to be selected for the England non-League XI
that season.
season, and Swansea manager Kenny Jackett
swooped for Ricketts, offering him a return to the Football League
. Ricketts joined Swansea City
on 27 May 2004.
Ricketts made such an impact in his first season with Swansea that John Toshack
handed him his first Welsh cap on 9 February 2005 in a match against Hungary
. Although born in England, Ricketts is qualified to play for Wales
through his Welsh grandfather.
signed Ricketts from Swansea City
on 14 July 2006 for a fee of £300,000 (triggering a minimum fee release clause in his contract with the Swans). In all competitions, to the end of the 2005–06
season, Ricketts had made 103 appearances for Swansea (with one further substitute appearance) and had scored three goals. His goals coming in the Football League Trophy against Luton, against Doncaster Rovers in the league, and in the 2006 League One Play Off semi final 1st leg against Brentford.
Ricketts made a good start to his Hull career, playing every minute of Hull's first ten games. However, he broke his cheekbone in the tenth game – a win against Hartlepool United
. The injury required an operation, and Ricketts was ruled out for several weeks. He made a full appearance in the Championship play-off final
victory over Bristol City
, taking Hull City to the Premier League for the first-time in the club's 104 year existence. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Hull against Southend United in March 2007.
On 23 July 2009, Hull City accepted a £2 million bid for Sam Ricketts believed to be from Bolton Wanderers
.
confirmed Ricketts had signed a three-year deal at the Reebok Stadium
for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Sunderland
on 15 August and has since played in every defensive position for the club. Ricketts snapped his Achilles tendon in a FA Cup
Replay against Wigan Athletic
on 16 February 2011 and was expected to be out for six months. He has yet to make his return and is still recovering from said injury.
champion jockey John Francome
.
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. His favoured position is full-back. Although he usually played on the right for previous club Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, he is equally comfortable on the left.
Early career
Ricketts began his career at Oxford UnitedOxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, making 35 first team appearances (with a further 13 as substitute) in all competitions and scoring one goal. During his time at Oxford United he had a brief spell on loan at Nuneaton Borough before being released from his professional contract to sign for Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
in the summer of 2003
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
. His form for Telford led him to be selected for the England non-League XI
England National Game XI
The England C National Football Team is the football team that represents England at non-league level. Formed in 1979 as the England Non-League team, it features players who play for clubs outside of the Football League...
that season.
Swansea City
Telford went out of business at the end of the 2003–042003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
season, and Swansea manager Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett is a former Wales international football player, who has since moved into management. He is the current manager of Millwall, the longest serving manager in the Football League Championship and eleventh longest serving manager in England.A skilful player, equally at home in defence or...
swooped for Ricketts, offering him a return to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. Ricketts joined Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on 27 May 2004.
Ricketts made such an impact in his first season with Swansea that John Toshack
John Toshack
John Benjamin Toshack OBE is a Welsh former footballer and manager. He is currently the manager of Macedonia. He has also managed several others clubs including Swansea City, who he took from the Fourth Division to the First in four seasons.As a player, he is remembered for being part of the...
handed him his first Welsh cap on 9 February 2005 in a match against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. Although born in England, Ricketts is qualified to play for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
through his Welsh grandfather.
Hull City
Hull City manager Phil ParkinsonPhil Parkinson
Philip John "Phil" Parkinson is an English football manager and former player who currently manages Bradford City.-Playing career:...
signed Ricketts from Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
on 14 July 2006 for a fee of £300,000 (triggering a minimum fee release clause in his contract with the Swans). In all competitions, to the end of the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season, Ricketts had made 103 appearances for Swansea (with one further substitute appearance) and had scored three goals. His goals coming in the Football League Trophy against Luton, against Doncaster Rovers in the league, and in the 2006 League One Play Off semi final 1st leg against Brentford.
Ricketts made a good start to his Hull career, playing every minute of Hull's first ten games. However, he broke his cheekbone in the tenth game – a win against Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. The injury required an operation, and Ricketts was ruled out for several weeks. He made a full appearance in the Championship play-off final
Football League Championship play-offs
The Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
victory over Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
, taking Hull City to the Premier League for the first-time in the club's 104 year existence. He scored his first and what turned out to be only goal for Hull against Southend United in March 2007.
On 23 July 2009, Hull City accepted a £2 million bid for Sam Ricketts believed to be from Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Bolton Wanderers
On 25 July 2009, Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
confirmed Ricketts had signed a three-year deal at the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
for an undisclosed fee. He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on 15 August and has since played in every defensive position for the club. Ricketts snapped his Achilles tendon in a FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Replay against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
on 16 February 2011 and was expected to be out for six months. He has yet to make his return and is still recovering from said injury.
Horseriding
As a teenager, Ricketts was a keen horseman who chose football over equestrianism. His father is the 1978 world showjumping champion Derek Ricketts, now performance manager of the UK show jumping team, and his uncle is the former National HuntNational Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
champion jockey John Francome
John Francome
John Francome MBE is a former National Hunt Champion Jockey.Born in Swindon the son of a railway fireman, his family had no connection with the horse racing world. At sixteen years old he became apprentice to Lambourn trainer Fred Winter and so began his career as a jockey. He rode a total of...
.
External links
- Sam Ricketts profile at the Bolton Wanderers website
- Wales profile