Community hub
Recent from talks
Contribute something
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Sam Ricketts
View on Wikipedia
Samuel Derek Ricketts (born 11 October 1981) is a professional football coach and former player.
Key Information
As a player, his favoured position was at full back, where he was able to play either side as well as being able to operate at the centre of defence. He played over 100 games for Swansea City before playing Premier League football for both Hull City and Bolton Wanderers. He left Bolton in 2013 and captained Wolverhampton Wanderers to the League One title with a record points total. Furthermore, he represented Wales at international level, making over 50 appearances for the national team.
Early life
[edit]Ricketts was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.[3] His family is highly involved in equestrianism. His father is the 1978 world showjumping champion Derek Ricketts, later performance manager of the UK showjumping team from 2002 to 2010,[4] and his uncle is the former National Hunt champion jockey John Francome. As a teenager, Ricketts himself was a keen rider until prioritising football.[5]
Club career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Ricketts began his career at Oxford United, making his first team debut on 8 October 2000 in a 2–1 Second Division defeat at rivals Swindon Town.[6] He played 48 total games and scored once, in a 2–0 home win over Southend United on 22 September 2001.[7]
In 2002 he was loaned to Nuneaton Borough of the Football Conference. On 26 December, he was sent off in the 25th minute of a 2–1 home loss to Burton Albion for a foul on John Burns.[8] In the last of his 11 games for Nuneaton, he scored the equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with leaders Yeovil Town on 25 January 2003.[9]
He was released from his professional contract to sign for Conference 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. On 6 April 2004, he scored the only goal of a win against Shropshire rivals Shrewsbury Town at the New Bucks Head.[10]
Swansea City
[edit]Telford United went out of business at the end of the 2003–04 season, meaning Ricketts' contract was annulled. Swansea manager Kenny Jackett offered him a return to league football though, and he joined Swansea City on a two-year deal on 27 May 2004.[11]
He helped the team to promotion from League Two in his first season, during which he was selected in the division's PFA Team of the Year.[12] At the end of the campaign he was rewarded for his performances with a new improved contract.[13] His second season saw the team reach the League One Play-off Final, but Ricketts was part of the team that lost on penalties to Barnsley.[14]
Hull City
[edit]
After 103 appearances in total for Swansea, Ricketts moved to Championship club Hull City on 14 July 2006 on a three-year contract. Hull triggered his release clause by paying £300,000.[15] He started every minute of Hull's first ten games but sustained a broken cheekbone in the tenth game – a win against Hartlepool United – that required an operation, thereby ruling him out for several weeks.[16] He made 45 appearances during the season, and scored his only goal for Hull on 31 March 2007, in a 4–0 home win over Southend United.[17]
The defender was part of the Hull team that won promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history at the end of the 2007–08 season; he played in their Championship play-off final victory over Bristol City.[18] Hull manager Phil Brown had stated in advance of this that he wanted to extend Ricketts' contract due to his performances.[19]
Ricketts made 29 league appearances for the Tigers in their inaugural top-flight campaign, as they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season.[20] Following this, he entered into talks regarding a new deal with the club, but had been linked to other Premier League clubs.[21]
Bolton Wanderers
[edit]On 25 July 2009, fellow Premier League club Bolton Wanderers confirmed Ricketts had signed a three-year deal with them for an undisclosed fee.[22] He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Sunderland on 15 August and went on to play in every defensive position for the club.
In February 2011 he suffered a snapped Achilles tendon during an FA Cup replay against Wigan Athletic, which put him out of first team contention until the end of the year.[23] He made his return on New Year's Eve 2011, where he also scored his first Bolton goal, in a 1–1 draw against his future club Wolverhampton Wanderers.[24] Ricketts' contract expired at the end of the 2011–12 season but, despite Bolton being relegated from the Premier League, he signed a new two-year deal with the club in the summer of 2012.[25] On 4 July 2013, after a season in which the team failed to make an instant return to the top flight, Bolton confirmed that his contract had been cancelled by mutual agreement.[26]
He later expressed his disappointment at leaving Bolton Wanderers.[27]
Wolverhampton Wanderers
[edit]On the same day as his exit from Bolton, Ricketts joined Wolverhampton Wanderers of League One as a free agent in a two-year deal, reuniting with his former Swansea manager Kenny Jackett.[28] Having been appointed club captain, he made his debut on 3 August 2013 in a goalless draw at Preston North End.[29] Ricketts was a regular member of the Wolves team that won the League One title that season with a record 103 points.[30] He scored his first goal for the club in a 6–4 win against Rotherham United on 18 April 2014.[31]
Back in the Championship, Ricketts seldom featured for Wolves, despite remaining club captain, and in January 2015 was made available for loan.[32] Soon after he took on a coaching role at the club,[33] but on 21 March 2015, left to join League One promotion contenders Swindon Town on loan for the remainder of the season.[34] He helped the club to the play-off final, scoring an equaliser in the semi-final at Sheffield United,[35] but the Robins lost the Wembley final 4–0 to Preston, in which Ricketts came on as an early substitute.[36]
On 17 June 2015 it was announced that his contract with Wolves will not be renewed.[37]
Coventry City
[edit]Ricketts signed for Coventry City on 6 July 2015 signing a one-year deal with the club.[38] In July 2016 his contract was extended until the end of the 2016–17 season.[39] On 16 November 2016, he was forced to retire from football because of a knee injury.[40]
International career
[edit]Although born in England, Ricketts was eligible for the Wales national football team due to a Welsh grandmother.[41] He made his international debut for Wales on 9 February 2005 in a friendly against Hungary that was John Toshack's first game in charge after his return as manager.[42] On 6 September 2013, he reached the milestone of 50 caps in a 2–1 loss away to Macedonia in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.[43]
Managerial career
[edit]Wrexham
[edit]After his retirement from playing, Ricketts integrated into coaching, inaugurally spending a week working alongside Brendan Rodgers's backroom staff at Scottish Premiership champions Celtic. Rodgers then advised Ricketts to begin coaching at academy level to gain experience, with the latter taking his advice and joined the academy coaching set-up at his former side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017.[44]
A year into his role, Ricketts left to become the first team manager of National League club Wrexham, signing a three-year contract, beginning on 2 May 2018.[45] On his managerial debut, his team won 1–0 at Dover Athletic.[46] During his brief spell in charge, Ricketts guided Wrexham to 13 victories out of a possible 23, with his side constantly being in the running to gain promotion to the Football League throughout his tenure.[47]
On 1 December 2018, he was told by club officials to stay away from their FA Cup second round match against Newport County, amid speculation that he was poised to be appointed the new manager of League One side Shrewsbury Town, a local rival.[48] With compensation agreed, he was subsequently appointed their manager days later; Wrexham were sat fourth in the table when he left.[47]
Shrewsbury Town
[edit]On 3 December 2018, Ricketts was appointed manager of Shrewsbury on a 21⁄2-year contract, leaving a Wrexham side fourth in the table.[47] Two days later in his first match, Shrewsbury won 2–1 against Walsall to reach the third round of the EFL Trophy; he was the first manager to win on his Shrewsbury debut since Graham Turner in 2010.[49] He brought in eight players in the January 2019 transfer window including Tyrese Campbell, Ro-Shaun Williams and Scott Golbourne.[50] In early 2019, Ricketts lead the club to the fourth round of the FA Cup. The club's cup run ended at the hands of rivals, and one of Ricketts' former clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Town were 2–0 up in the original tie at New Meadow with just under 20 minutes to play, but late goals from Raúl Jiménez and Matt Doherty took the tie to a replay at Molineux.[51] Ricketts' Shrewsbury side went 2–1 up in the replay, only to eventually lose 3–2.[52] A 1–1 draw away at Coventry City on 28 April mathematically secured League One survival for Ricketts and the club.[53]
In the summer of 2019, Ricketts made more notable signings to strengthen the squad for the upcoming 2019–20 season, bringing in players such as Jason Cummings from Nottingham Forest, Sean Goss from Queens Park Rangers, Donald Love from Sunderland, Ethan Ebanks-Landell from Wolves and Aaron Pierre from Northampton Town. Ricketts started the season with a 1–0 win at home to Portsmouth on 4 August, with loanee Ryan Giles scoring the goal.[54] During the 2019–20 season, Ricketts lead the club to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the second time during his management spell, defeating Bradford City, Mansfield Town and Bristol City along the way. The fourth round would see Ricketts and his Shrewsbury side host Premier League leaders and European and World champions Liverpool, where Shrewsbury came from 0–2 down to draw 2–2 with 2 goals from substitute Jason Cummings, forcing a replay at Anfield.[55] In the replay, Shrewsbury fell short after a Shaun Whalley goal was disallowed by VAR for offside and an own goal from Ro-Shaun Williams saw the hosts win 1–0.[56] This cup run brought repercussions, however, as Ricketts and the club went 10 league games without a win between December 2019 and February 2020. A 2–0 home defeat to Accrington Stanley on 11 February 2020[57] followed by another 2–0 defeat away at Portsmouth on 15 February[58] put Ricketts' job under severe pressure. The winless run ended a week later on 22 February after a 1–0 win at home to Doncaster Rovers.[59] On 14 March 2020, Ricketts and his Shrewsbury side were scheduled to take on top-of-the-table Coventry City at St Andrew's, however the match was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.[60] Due to the pandemic, the 2019–20 League One season was cut short and it was decided that final league positions would be based on a points-per-game basis. This saw the club finish 15th in the final table.
With first-team midfielder Josh Laurent leaving for Championship club Reading,[61] Ricketts looked to strengthen his Shrewsbury squad again in the summer of 2020. The departure of Irish goalkeeper Joe Murphy also meant Ricketts only had 1 senior goalkeeper. On 3 August, Ricketts managed to get 3 deals over the line, bringing in striker Rekeil Pyke from Huddersfield Town and promising Northern Irish winger Josh Daniels from Glenavon, as well as the loan signing of young midfielder Scott High, also from Huddersfield Town.[62] The club played their first pre-season friendly of the season on 11 August, beating Cymru Premier side Bala Town 3–0 at Telford United's New Bucks Head. Two days later on 13 August, defender Omar Beckles rejected a new contract and subsequently also left the club, leaving a gap in Ricketts' defence.[63] On 18 August, Ricketts won his second pre-season friendly of the season, defeating Nuneaton Borough 3–1 at home.[a][64] This was followed by a defeat 0–1 home defeat to rivals Walsall on 21 August, a 5–1 defeat away at Stoke City on 25 August and a 1–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers U23, also on 25 August. On 28 August, Ricketts managed to strengthen his defence with the loan signing of United States U20 international Marlon Fossey from Fulham.[65] The club's final pre-season friendly took place on 29 August, a 2–1 win away at Premier League club Burnley. On 2 September, Ricketts managed to fill the goalkeeper void, bringing in Montenegro international Matija Sarkic on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.[66]
Ricketts and the team had a steady but rocky start to the 2020–21 League One season, drawing 3 and losing 1 of their first 4 played games. Ricketts' first win of the season came on 17 October when a stoppage time winner from new signing Leon Clarke confirmed a 1–0 win at AFC Wimbledon.[67] Four consecutive defeats then followed, including a 5–1 defeat away at Peterborough United on 31 October.[68] Two more draws and another defeat later and the club found themselves in the relegation zone and only off the bottom of the table on goal difference. A 2–2 draw at Milton Keynes Dons, in which The Shrews led 2–0, on 24 November [69] turned out to be the last straw as Ricketts and assistant manager Dean Whitehead were relieved of their duties a day later on 25 November. The club sat 23rd in League One after 13 league games, gaining only 9 points from a possible 39.[70]
Personal life
[edit]After leaving Shrewsbury Town in November 2020, Ricketts opened a builder's merchant.[71]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Oxford United | 2000–01[72] | Second Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2001–02[73] | Third Division | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| 2002–03[74] | Third Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 45 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 1 | ||
| Nuneaton Borough (loan) | 2002–03[74] | Football Conference | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Telford United | 2003–04[75] | Football Conference | 41 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5[b][c] | 1 | 51 | 6 |
| Swansea City | 2004–05[76] | League Two | 42 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 1 | 50 | 1 |
| 2005–06[77] | League One | 44 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9[b][d] | 1 | 55 | 2 | |
| Total | 86 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 105 | 3 | ||
| Hull City | 2006–07[78] | Championship | 40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 1 |
| 2007–08[79] | Championship | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[e] | 0 | 49 | 0 | |
| 2008–09[20] | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Total | 113 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 129 | 1 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2009–10[80] | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| 2010–11[81] | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2011–12[82] | Premier League | 20 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2012–13[83] | Championship | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| Total | 96 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 113 | 1 | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2013–14[84] | League One | 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| 2014–15[85] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 48 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 2 | ||
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2014–15[85] | League One | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[f] | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| Coventry City | 2015–16[86] | League One | 43 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 46 | 1 |
| 2016–17[87] | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 46 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 495 | 12 | 34 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 24 | 4 | 569 | 18 | ||
- ^ During the summer of 2020, the club played their pre-season home fixtures at AFC Telford United's New Bucks Head in Wellington to allow pitch works at New Meadow, that had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to take place.
- ^ a b c d e f Appearances in Football League Trophy
- ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
- ^ Appearances in 2006 Football League play-offs
- ^ Appearances in 2008 Football League play-offs
- ^ Appearances in 2015 Football League play-offs
International
[edit]| Wales[88] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 7 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 0 |
Managerial
[edit]- As of match played 24 November 2020[89]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Wrexham[a] | 2 May 2018 | 3 December 2018 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 56.5 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 3 December 2018 | 25 November 2020 | 96 | 28 | 34 | 34 | 29.2 |
| Total | 119 | 41 | 41 | 37 | 34.5 | ||
- ^ Soccerbase's total includes the FA Cup match against Newport County that Wrexham told him to stay away from.
Honours
[edit]As a player
[edit]Swansea City
- Football League Two third-place promotion: 2004–05[90]
- Football League Trophy: 2005–06[91]
Hull City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Individual
As a manager
[edit]Individual
- National League Manager of the Month: October 2018[95]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 521. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
- ^ "Player Profile: Samuel Ricketts: Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Horse and Hound, Report of dismissal, Published 13 January 2010
- ^ "'If Millwall don't fancy it, then we've got a chance' says Telford's Ricketts – and he's not horsing around!". GiveMeFootball.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
- ^ "Swindon 2–1 Oxford". BBC Sport. 8 October 2000.
- ^ "Oxford 2–0 Southend". BBC Sport. 22 September 2001. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Nuneaton 1–2 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 26 December 2002. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Sam signs off in style". Coventry Telegraph. 27 January 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Telford 1–0 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "Ricketts moves to Swansea". BBC Sport. 27 May 2004.
- ^ "Swans duo win PFA team accolade". BBC Sport. 25 April 2005.
- ^ "Ricketts signs new Swansea deal". BBC Sport. 3 August 2005.
- ^ "How Lge 1 play-off final unfolded". BBC Sport. 28 May 2006.
- ^ "Ricketts completes move to Hull". BBC Sport. 15 July 2006.
- ^ "Ricketts faces cheekbone surgery". BBC Sport. 20 September 2006.
- ^ "Hull 4–0 Southend". BBC Sport. 31 March 2007.
- ^ a b McNulty, Phil (24 May 2008). "Bristol City 0–1 Hull: Report". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Hull to offer Ricketts new deal". BBC Sport. 9 April 2008.
- ^ a b "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ "Hull hopeful of keeping Ricketts". BBC Sport. 1 July 2009.
- ^ "Bolton edge Portsmouth in getting Sam Ricketts signature". The Mirror. 24 July 2009.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts ruled out for season with Achilles injury". BBC Sport. 18 February 2011.
- ^ "Bolton 1–1 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. 31 December 2011.
- ^ "Ricketts signs new deal". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012.
- ^ "Ricketts departs". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 4 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts admits disappointment at leaving Bolton Wanderers". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 8 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: Wolves sign Bolton Wanderers' Welsh defender". BBC Sport. 4 July 2013.
- ^ "Preston 0–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013.
- ^ "Wolves 3–0 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014.
- ^ "Wolves 6–4 Rotherham". BBC Sport. 18 April 2014.
- ^ "Wolves make Sam Ricketts available for loan". Express & Star. 20 January 2015.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts takes on coaching role at Wolves". Express & Star. 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: Swindon sign Wolves defender on loan". BBC Sport. 21 March 2015.
- ^ "Sheffield United 1–2 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 7 May 2015.
- ^ "Preston North End 4–0 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 24 May 2015.
- ^ "Ricketts to leave Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 17 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: Coventry City sign ex-Wolves captain". BBC Sport. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ Ricketts extended at Coventry
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: Coventry City skipper forced to retire by knee injury". BBC Sport. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: Biography & Statistics". FAW. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012.
- ^ "Wales 2–0 Hungary". BBC Sport. 9 February 2005.
- ^ Pope, Bruce (6 September 2013). "Macedonia 2–1 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "INTERVIEW | Sam Ricketts - Town TV". Shrewsbury Town FC via YouTube. 3 December 2018. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: Ex-Wales defender becomes new Wrexham manager". BBC Sport. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ Griffiths, Rob (5 August 2018). "'It is plain to see that there is a clear and obvious change in mentality at the Racecourse under new manager Sam Ricketts'". Daily Post. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ a b c "Sam Ricketts: Shrewsbury Town appoint Wrexham boss as new manager". BBC Sport. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts: 'A lot of making up' for him to stay at Wrexham – Barrow". BBC Sport. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (5 December 2018). "Sam Ricketts: A perfect start at Shrewsbury". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (7 May 2019). "Sam Ricketts relishing his learning curve at Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ Sutcliffe, Steve (26 January 2019). "Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup". BBC Sport.
- ^ Mann, Mantej (5 February 2019). "Wolves 3-2 Shrewsbury in FA Cup fourth-round replay". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Coventry City 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Richard Fletcher and Lewis Cox analysis". Shropshire Star. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (3 August 2019). "Shrewsbury Town 1 Portsmouth 0 - Report and pictures". Shropshire Star. Archived from the original on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ "Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Liverpool 1 - 0 Shrewsbury - Match Report & Highlights". Sky Sports. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Accrington Stanley - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (15 February 2020). "Portsmouth 2-0 Shrewsbury Town – Lewis Cox's player ratings". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (22 February 2020). "Shrewsbury Town 1 Doncaster Rovers 0 - Report and pictures". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ "Coventry City vs Shrewsbury Town - 14 March 2020". Shrewsbury Town FC.
- ^ "🖋️ Josh Laurent is a Royal!". Reading FC official site. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "Rekeil Pyke, Scott High and Josh Daniels: Shrewsbury Town complete triple transfer". BBC Sport. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (13 August 2020). "Omar Beckles to leave Shrewsbury Town after rejecting new contract". Shropshire Star.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (18 August 2020). "Shrewsbury Town 3 Nuneaton Borough 1 – report and pictures". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Marlon Fossey Signs For Town". Shrewsbury Town FC official site. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (2 September 2020). "Shrewsbury Town sign Wolves goalkeeper Matija Sarkic on loan". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 17 October 2020.
- ^ "Peterborough United 5-1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 2-2 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 24 November 2020.
- ^ Cox, Lewis (25 November 2020). "Sam Ricketts sacked by Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star Sport. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ The Bolton News: "Ex-Bolton Wanderers star Sam Ricketts on Allardyce, Legends game and next step"
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Games played by Sam Ricketts in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ "Sam Ricketts". eu-football.info. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "Managers: Sam Ricketts". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
- ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2005). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2005–2006. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 49, 376–377. ISBN 978-0-7553-1384-6.
- ^ "Carlisle 1–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 2 April 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2014). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2014–2015. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 386–387. ISBN 978-1-4722-1251-1.
- ^ "Sunderland/Wigan dominate line-up". BBC Sport. 24 April 2005. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
- ^ Sam Elliott. "Sam Secures The Top Manager Award As Wrexham Power On". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
External links
[edit]
- Sam Ricketts at Soccerbase
- Wales profile
Sam Ricketts
View on GrokipediaBiography
Early life
Samuel Derek Ricketts was born on 11 October 1981 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England.[10] He was born into a prominent equestrian family; his father, Derek Ricketts, was the 1978 world showjumping champion, while his uncle, John Francome, was a multiple-time champion jockey.[3][2] Ricketts grew up surrounded by horses on his family's yard, which housed 20 to 30 animals, and he began riding at a young age, achieving notable success by age 13, including a second-place finish in a Horse of the Year Show qualifier.[2] Despite his family's equestrian background, Ricketts developed an early passion for football, influenced by his grandfather Norman, a former player for Swindon Town.[2] His initial games were informal, played in his uncle's indoor arena using hay bales as goalposts, where his grandfather encouraged him to develop his left foot.[2] Although raised in England, Ricketts identified strongly with his Welsh heritage through his grandmother, which qualified him for the Wales national team and sparked his admiration for Welsh football from a young age.[3] At around 13 years old, he chose to pursue football over showjumping, joining the youth setup at local club Oxford United in 1994.[11]Personal life
Ricketts is married, with whom he has shared aspects of his family life publicly through occasional mentions in interviews.[2] Following his dismissal from Shrewsbury Town in November 2020, Ricketts transitioned away from football management and acquired a local company that was closing down, reopening it as a builder's merchant business.[5][12] He serves as a director of Francome's Building Supplies Ltd, based at the WPI Trading Estate in Ollerton, Knutsford, Cheshire.[8] As of 2025, Ricketts continues to reside in the United Kingdom, with no reported involvement in active coaching roles, focusing instead on his business ventures.[13]Playing career
Club career
Ricketts began his professional career with Oxford United, joining the club's youth setup in 1999 and signing a professional contract in April 2000. He made his senior debut on 8 October 2000 in a 2–1 Second Division loss to Swindon Town and went on to make 48 appearances, scoring once, across spells that included a loan to non-league Nuneaton Borough in 2002–03. Released by Oxford at the end of the 2002–03 season, he dropped into the Conference with AFC Telford United for the 2003–04 campaign, where he helped the side reach the FA Trophy final.[2][14] In May 2004, Ricketts signed with Swansea City as manager Kenny Jackett's first acquisition, establishing himself as a reliable right-back with 103 appearances and one goal over three seasons. He played a pivotal role in the Swans' 2004–05 League Two playoff campaign, featuring in the semi-final victory over Notts County and the Wembley final win against Huddersfield Town that secured promotion to League One. His consistent performances earned him the club's Player of the Season award that year, though Swansea struggled to consolidate in the higher division during his tenure.[1][15] Ricketts joined Championship side Hull City in July 2006 on a three-year deal, making 129 appearances and scoring once while contributing to back-to-back promotions. He was a key part of the Tigers' 2007–08 playoff success, starting in the semi-finals against Bristol City and the Wembley final against Bristol Rovers to reach the Championship, followed by a third-place finish in 2008–09 that earned promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. In the top flight during 2008–09, Ricketts featured in 29 matches, providing defensive solidity in Hull's debut season, which ended in relegation.[16][17] After Hull triggered a release clause in his contract, Ricketts transferred to Bolton Wanderers in July 2009 for an undisclosed fee, where he spent four seasons making 114 appearances and scoring once. Primarily deployed at right-back, he adapted well to Premier League demands, helping Bolton avoid relegation in 2009–10 with notable performances in survival battles. The club suffered relegation in 2011–12, after which Ricketts remained a regular in the Championship, captaining several matches and contributing to a mid-table finish in 2012–13 amid defensive reshuffles.[2][18] In July 2013, Ricketts signed a two-year deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers as a free agent and was immediately appointed club captain. He made 44 appearances and scored twice in his first season, leading Wolves to the League One title in 2013–14 with a record 103 points, including standout contributions in a 24-game unbeaten run. Injuries limited his involvement the following year, prompting a short loan to Swindon Town in March 2015 where he played 12 times; persistent issues led to his release by Wolves in June 2015.[19] Ricketts joined Coventry City on a one-year contract in July 2015, captaining the side in League One with 46 appearances and one goal in his debut season. Extended for 2016–17, he started the campaign but chronic knee pain forced medical advice to retire on 16 November 2016, ending a career that spanned over 540 professional appearances and 10 goals, predominantly as a versatile defender who experienced all four English football divisions and multiple promotions.[20][21][22]International career
Ricketts, born in Aylesbury, England, qualified to represent Wales through his Welsh grandmother. He received his first call-up to the senior national team in April 2004 while playing non-league football for Telford United.[23] His senior debut arrived on 9 February 2005 in a friendly against Hungary at the Millennium Stadium, a 2–0 victory that marked John Toshack's first match as manager following his return.[24][25] Over the next decade, Ricketts earned 52 caps for Wales between 2005 and 2014, failing to score in any of his appearances. He became a regular squad member under Toshack and later Gary Speed, providing defensive reliability as a right-back or centre-back.[24][22] His international career encompassed participation in UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup qualifiers, including 11 appearances in Euro 2012 qualifying and 13 in 2006 and 2014 World Cup campaigns. Notable matches included a 3–2 World Cup qualifying win at Northern Ireland on 8 October 2005, where his cross led to Simon Davies' opening goal, and a 1–1 draw against Belgium in a 2013 World Cup qualifier.[24] Ricketts featured in early preparations for UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, receiving a call-up for the opening match against Andorra on 9 September 2014 but withdrawing due to injury.[26] His final cap came on 5 March 2014 in a 3–1 friendly victory over Iceland at Cardiff City Stadium. Following this, he stepped away from international duty amid growing club commitments at Wolverhampton Wanderers and considerations of his age at 32. Throughout his tenure, Ricketts contributed to Wales' gradual improvement in the 2010s, bolstering the defense during a transitional era, though the team fell short of qualifying for a major tournament.[27][28]Managerial career
Wrexham
In May 2018, Sam Ricketts was appointed as the first-team manager of Wrexham in the National League, leaving his role as lead coach of the Wolverhampton Wanderers under-16s academy team, where he had joined part-time in August 2017 and gone full-time that November. He signed a three-year contract with the club, marking his first senior managerial position.[29][4][30] Ricketts' tenure lasted from May to December 2018, during which he oversaw 23 competitive matches, achieving 13 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses for a win rate of 56.5% and an average of 2.00 points per match. His debut in the National League came on 4 August 2018, with a 1–0 victory over Dover Athletic at Crabble Athletic Ground. Under his leadership, Wrexham scored 30 goals while conceding just 14, contributing to a climb up the table and leaving the team in fourth place by the time of his departure, their strongest position in over a decade.[31][32][33] Ricketts' side demonstrated strong form in the early stages of the 2018–19 season, with only three league defeats and a defensive record that limited opponents to an average of under 0.61 goals per game. His tactical approach prioritized defensive solidity, drawing on his experience as a former defender, which helped establish Wrexham as promotion contenders in the fifth tier.[31][32] On 3 December 2018, Ricketts departed Wrexham by mutual consent to become manager of League One club Shrewsbury Town, with compensation agreed between the clubs. In the lead-up to his exit, Wrexham placed him on gardening leave, barring him from the touchline for their match against Ebbsfleet United on 1 December.[34][35][33]Shrewsbury Town
Ricketts was appointed as manager of Shrewsbury Town on 3 December 2018, leaving his role at Wrexham to take charge in EFL League One on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[34] His move followed a successful spell at Wrexham that positioned them fourth in the National League.[34] During his tenure, Ricketts oversaw 96 matches, securing 28 wins for a 29.2% win rate, with the team achieving mid-table finishes of 18th in 2018–19 and 15th in 2019–20.[6] He faced a tough start, including a nine-game winless run in league play in early 2019 that tested team confidence.[36] Progress in the EFL Trophy provided a highlight, as Shrewsbury advanced from their group stage as runners-up to the second round in 2019–20, where they were eliminated by Manchester City U21 on penalties.[37] The 2019–20 season was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a curtailed campaign and frozen league standings after 34 games.[38] Ricketts was sacked on 25 November 2020 amid poor form, with Shrewsbury earning just one win from their opening 13 League One matches and sitting 23rd in the table, 10 points from safety.[6] The club cited the need for "fresh impetus" to the team in their official statement announcing the decision.[6] As of 2025, Ricketts has not returned to management, instead focusing on his business ventures that have occupied much of his time post-departure.[5]Career statistics and honours
Club statistics
Sam Ricketts made a total of 513 appearances and scored 11 goals across his club career in all competitions. He accumulated 49 yellow cards and 3 red cards during this period.[39][40] The following table provides a breakdown of his appearances and goals by club:| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford United | 1999–2003 | 48 | 1 |
| Swansea City | 2004–2006 | 105 | 3 |
| Hull City | 2006–2009 | 128 | 1 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2009–2013 | 114 | 1 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2013–2015 | 50 | 3 |
| Swindon Town (loan) | 2014–2015 | 12 | 1 |
| Coventry City | 2015–2016 | 56 | 1 |
| Career total | 513 | 11 |
International statistics
Sam Ricketts represented Wales at senior international level from 2005 to 2014, accumulating 52 caps without scoring any goals.[24][41] He made his debut on 9 February 2005, starting as a left-back in a 2–0 friendly win against Hungary at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.[24] During his international career, Ricketts featured exclusively in friendlies and qualifying campaigns for the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, with Wales failing to advance to any major tournaments in this period.[24][41] Ricketts' appearances spanned encounters with a range of opponents, including strong sides such as England, Brazil, Germany, and Russia, as well as smaller nations like San Marino, Azerbaijan, and Liechtenstein.[24] Primarily deployed as a defender—often at right-back or left-back—he contributed to several competitive results, such as home wins over Poland (1–0, WC qualifier, 2005) and Austria (2–1, friendly, 2013).[24]Appearances by Competition
| Competition | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Friendlies | 28 | 0 |
| FIFA World Cup qualifiers | 13 | 0 |
| UEFA European Championship qualifiers | 11 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 0 |
Appearances by Year
| Year | Appearances | Goals | Notable Opponents (Examples) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 9 | 0 | Hungary, Austria, England |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | Brazil, Czech Republic |
| 2007 | 10 | 0 | Germany, San Marino |
| 2008 | 7 | 0 | Netherlands, Russia |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | Poland, Montenegro |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | Croatia, Bulgaria |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | Republic of Ireland |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | Mexico, Serbia |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | Scotland, North Macedonia |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | Iceland |
| Total | 52 | 0 |
Managerial record
Sam Ricketts' managerial career spans stints at Wrexham AFC and Shrewsbury Town, where he managed a total of 119 matches across league and cup competitions.[43] His overall record stands at 41 wins, 39 draws, and 39 losses, yielding a win percentage of 34.5% and an average of 1.36 points per game.[31][44] These figures encompass incomplete seasons at both clubs, with Ricketts departing Wrexham mid-season in December 2018 and Shrewsbury in November 2020.[43]Record at Wrexham AFC (May 2018 – December 2018)
Ricketts managed 23 matches during his tenure at Wrexham in the National League, achieving 13 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses, with 30 goals scored and 14 conceded.[31] This resulted in 46 points and 2.00 points per game.[31]| Competition | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National League | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 29 | 13 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 23 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 30 | 14 |
Record at Shrewsbury Town (December 2018 – November 2020)
At Shrewsbury Town in League One, Ricketts oversaw 96 matches, recording 28 wins, 32 draws, and 36 losses, while scoring 121 goals and conceding 138.[44] He accumulated 116 points, averaging 1.21 points per game.[44] The tenure covered parts of three seasons, including participation in domestic cup competitions.| Competition | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League One | 82 | 23 | 28 | 31 | 103 | 117 |
| EFL Cup | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| FA Cup | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 |
| EFL Trophy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 96 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 121 | 138 |
Player honours
Sam Ricketts accumulated several team honours during his playing career, primarily through successful promotion campaigns and cup victories with various clubs. These achievements highlight his contributions to defensive solidity in key seasons leading to collective successes. Swansea City- Promotion to League One via the League Two play-offs (2004–05 season).[1]
- Football League Trophy winners (2005–06 season).[45]
- Promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs (2007–08 season).[46]
- League One champions (2013–14 season, with a record 103 points).[47]
- EFL Trophy winners (2016–17 season).[48]