Editing Sam Ricketts (section)

==Club career==
===Early career===
Ricketts began his career at [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], making his first team debut on 8 October 2000 in a 2–1 [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] defeat at rivals [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/959715.stm |title=Swindon 2–1 Oxford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 October 2000}}</ref> He played 48 total games and scored once, in a 2–0 home win over [[Southend United]] on 22 September 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oxford 2–0 Southend |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1554259.stm |access-date=12 March 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 September 2001}}</ref>

In 2002 he was loaned to [[Nuneaton Borough F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]] of the [[National League (English football)|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 (Irish footballer)|John Burns]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nuneaton 1–2 Burton Albion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/2588643.stm |access-date=12 March 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 December 2002}}</ref> In the last of his 11 games for Nuneaton, he scored the equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with leaders [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] on 25 January 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam signs off in style |url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/other-sport/sam-signs-off-in-style-3188818 |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=Coventry Telegraph |date=27 January 2003}}</ref>

He was released from his professional contract to sign for  Conference side [[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]] in the summer of [[2003–04 in English football|2003]]. His form for Telford led him to be selected for the [[England national football C team|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]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Telford 1–0 Shrewsbury |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/3593315.stm |access-date=13 March 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 April 2004}}</ref>

===Swansea City===
Telford United went out of business at the end of the [[2003–04 in English football|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 A.F.C.|Swansea City]] on a two-year deal on 27 May 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/3753645.stm |title=Ricketts moves to Swansea |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2004}}</ref>

He helped the team to promotion from [[EFL League Two|League Two]] in his first season, during which he was selected in the division's [[PFA Team of the Year#League Two|PFA Team of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4480635.stm |title=Swans duo win PFA team accolade |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 April 2005}}</ref> At the end of the campaign he was rewarded for his performances with a new improved contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/4114908.stm |title=Ricketts signs new Swansea deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2005}}</ref> His second season saw the team reach the [[2006 Football League One play-off final|League One Play-off Final]], but Ricketts was part of the team that lost on penalties to [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/5023110.stm |title=How Lge 1 play-off final unfolded |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2006}}</ref>

===Hull City===
[[File:Sam Ricketts Hull City v. Newcastle United 2.png|thumb|right|100px|Ricketts playing for Hull City in 2009]]
After 103 appearances in total for Swansea, Ricketts moved to [[EFL Championship|Championship]] club [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] on 14 July 2006 on a three-year contract. Hull triggered his release clause by paying £300,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/5168774.stm |title=Ricketts completes move to Hull |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 July 2006}}</ref> He started every minute of Hull's first ten games but sustained a broken cheekbone in the tenth game – a win against [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] – that required an operation, thereby ruling him out for several weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/5365482.stm |title=Ricketts faces cheekbone surgery |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 September 2006}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Southend United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6490979.stm |title=Hull 4–0 Southend |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 March 2007}}</ref>

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 [[EFL Championship play-offs|Championship play-off final]] victory over [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]].<ref name=2008POF>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7416502.stm |title=Bristol City 0–1 Hull: Report |first=Phil |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2008 |access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref> Hull manager [[Phil Brown (footballer, born 1959)|Phil Brown]] had stated in advance of this that he wanted to extend Ricketts' contract due to his performances.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hull to offer Ricketts new deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/7339348.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 April 2008}}</ref>

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.<ref name=sb0809/> Following this, he entered into talks regarding a new deal with the club, but had been linked to other Premier League clubs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hull hopeful of keeping Ricketts |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hull_city/8127217.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 July 2009}}</ref>

===Bolton Wanderers===
On 25 July 2009, fellow Premier League club [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] confirmed Ricketts had signed a three-year deal with them for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/07/24/megson-swoops-to-boost-defence-115875-21543679/ |title=Bolton edge Portsmouth in getting Sam Ricketts signature |date=24 July 2009 |newspaper=The Mirror}}</ref> He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to [[Sunderland A.F.C.|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 F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], which put him out of first team contention until the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sam Ricketts ruled out for season with Achilles injury |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/9400135.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 February 2011}}</ref> 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 F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16325117.stm |title=Bolton 1–1 Wolverhampton |date=31 December 2011 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0,,1004~2776253,00.html |title=Ricketts signs new deal |date=18 May 2012 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520063442/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/page/General/0%2C%2C1004~2776253%2C00.html |archive-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/ricketts-departs-4.7.13-893808.aspx |title=Ricketts departs |date=4 July 2013 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |access-date=4 July 2013 |archive-date=8 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708053507/http://www.bwfc.co.uk//news/article/ricketts-departs-4.7.13-893808.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He later expressed his disappointment at leaving Bolton Wanderers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/wanderersnews/10794750.Sam_Ricketts_admits_disappointment_at_leaving_Bolton_Wanderers/=.aspx |title=Sam Ricketts admits disappointment at leaving Bolton Wanderers |date=8 November 2013 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110084154/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/wanderersnews/10794750.Sam_Ricketts_admits_disappointment_at_leaving_Bolton_Wanderers/=.aspx/ |archive-date=10 January 2016}}</ref>

===Wolverhampton Wanderers===
On the same day as his exit from Bolton, Ricketts joined [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] of [[EFL League One|League One]] as a free agent in a two-year deal, reuniting with his former Swansea manager [[Kenny Jackett]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Ricketts: Wolves sign Bolton Wanderers' Welsh defender |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23150405 |date=4 July 2013}}</ref> Having been appointed club captain, he made his debut on 3 August 2013 in a goalless draw at [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Preston 0–0 Wolves |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/23474880 |date=3 August 2013}}</ref> Ricketts was a regular member of the Wolves team that won the League One title that season with a record 103 points.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolves 3–0 Carlisle United |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27167811 |date=3 May 2014}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club in a 6–4 win against [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] on 18 April 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolves 6–4 Rotherham |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26983300 |date=18 April 2014}}</ref>

Back in the Championship, Ricketts seldom featured for Wolves, despite remaining club captain, and in January 2015 was made available for loan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wolves make Sam Ricketts available for loan |newspaper=Express & Star |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2015/01/20/wolves-make-sam-ricketts-available-for-loan/ |date=20 January 2015}}</ref> Soon after he took on a coaching role at the club,<ref>{{cite news |title=Sam Ricketts takes on coaching role at Wolves |newspaper=Express & Star |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/2015/03/05/sam-ricketts-takes-on-coaching-role-at-wolves/ |date=5 March 2015}}</ref> but on 21 March 2015, left to join League One promotion contenders [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] on loan for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sam Ricketts: Swindon sign Wolves defender on loan |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32000628 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 March 2015}}</ref> He helped the club to the play-off final, scoring an equaliser in the semi-final at [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheffield United 1–2 Swindon Town |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32575854 |date=7 May 2015}}</ref> but the Robins lost the Wembley final 4–0 to [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston]], in which Ricketts came on as an early substitute.<ref>{{cite news |title=Preston North End 4–0 Swindon Town |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32770740 |date=24 May 2015}}</ref>

On 17 June 2015 it was announced that his contract with Wolves will not be renewed.<ref name="Release">{{cite news |title=Ricketts to leave Wolves |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/ricketts-to-leave-wolves-2496022.aspx |date=17 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702105828/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/ricketts-to-leave-wolves-2496022.aspx |archive-date=2 July 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Coventry City===
Ricketts signed for [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] on 6 July 2015 signing a one-year deal with the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33418443 |title=Sam Ricketts: Coventry City sign ex-Wolves captain |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 July 2015 |access-date=11 July 2015}}</ref> In July 2016 his contract was extended until the end of the 2016–17 season.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36745429 Ricketts extended at Coventry]</ref> On 16 November 2016, he was forced to retire from football because of a knee injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38001039 |title=Sam Ricketts: Coventry City skipper forced to retire by knee injury |date=16 November 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>