Sam Tickle Explained

Sam Tickle
Fullname:Samuel Lloyd Tickle[1]
Birth Date:2002 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Warrington, England
Height:6 ft 2 in
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Wigan Athletic
Clubnumber:1
Youthyears1:2012–2018
Youthclubs1:Wigan Athletic
Youthyears2:2019–2021
Youthclubs2:Wigan Athletic
Years1:2018–2019
Clubs1:Pilkington
Caps1:21
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–
Clubs2:Wigan Athletic
Caps2:47
Goals2:0
Years3:2022
Clubs3:Nantwich Town (loan)
Caps3:7
Goals3:0
Years4:2022
Clubs4:Warrington Rylands (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2024-
Nationalteam1:England U21
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Pcupdate:23:15, 9 May 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:13:01, 27 March 2024 (UTC)

Samuel Lloyd Tickle (born 31 March 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Wigan Athletic.

Club career

Sam Tickle is a youth product of Wigan Athletic, having joined their youth academy in 2012. He was released at the end of the 2018 season. He then signed for Pilkington, making 21 league appearances[2] and was named player of the season as they won the Cheshire Football League.[3] During the 2018–19 season he was also selected as the number one for England Schoolboys FA & represented his country making five appearances, conceding only once. In 2019, he rejoined Wigan Athletic, joining as a scholar.[4]

He made his professional debut with Wigan in a 2–0 EFL Trophy loss to Crewe Alexandra on 5 October 2021.[5]

On 19 March 2022, Tickle joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Nantwich Town on a youth loan until 14 April 2022.[6]

In July 2022, he joined Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands on loan until January 2023.[7] He made two appearances for the club,[8] but was recalled by Wigan following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Ben Amos. He was named on the bench against Birmingham City on 20 August 2022. He returned to Warrington Rylands on loan until January, but after four appearances was recalled again due to injuries to Jones and then Amos. He was named on the bench against Hull City and for the consecutive 10 games.[9]

Despite off-the-field issues within the club, Tickle signed a new contract with Wigan Athletic in April 2023.[10] On 8 May 2023, the final day of the 2022–23 season, Tickle was handed his league debut, keeping a clean sheet as already relegated Wigan held Rotherham United to a goalless draw.[11]

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Tickle was handed the number one shirt, manager Shaun Maloney revealing that he had known since his arrival that the goalkeeper would be his first-choice.[12] [13] Following a highly impressive debut season that saw him labelled the best goalkeeper in the English Football League by his manager,[14] Tickle was named Wigan's Player of the Year, the first goalkeeper to win the award in thirteen years.[15] Following the conclusion of the season, he signed a new four-year contract amid reported interest from a number of Championship clubs.[16] [17]

International career

In September 2023, Tickle was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time.[18] He made his U21 debut on 26 March 2024, playing the duration of a 7–0 win 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win over Luxembourg at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.[19]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wigan Athletic2020–21League One0000000000
2021–22League One0000001010
2022–23Championship10000010
2023–24League One460301020520
Total470301030540
Nantwich Town (loan)2021–22Northern Premier Division700070
Warrington Rylands (loan)2022–23Northern Premier Division600060
Career total600301030670

Honours

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EFL Professional retain list 2019-20. EFL.com. 11 August 2021.
  2. Web site: Samuel Lloyd Tickle Player Stats. fulltime.thefa.com. 11 January 2024.
  3. Pilkingtonfc. PLAYER OF THE YEAR & PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Congratulations to @SamTickle3 on winning the double!. 18 May 2019. 1 September 2023. 1129842863230078977.
  4. youthhawk. Wigan Athletic first year scholars 2019-20. 7 August 2019. 1 September 2023. 1159041368502747136.
  5. Web site: Wigan Athletic FC - Sam Tickle | "It is a dream come true.". Wigan Athletic. FC. Wigan Athletic FC.
  6. Web site: Sam Tickle joins Nantwich Town on loan . Wigan Athletic FC . 19 March 2022 . 21 March 2022.
  7. Web site: Academy | Sam Tickle Joins Warrington Rylands On Loan Until January . Wigan Athletic . 27 July 2022 . 27 July 2022.
  8. Web site: Warrington Rylands – Appearances – Sam Tickle . Football Web Pages . 24 August 2022.
  9. Web site: Report: Blues 0-1 Wigan Athletic . Birmingham City Football Club . 24 August 2022.
  10. Web site: Academy Three U21s agree contract extensions. wiganathletic.com. 14 April 2023. 23 May 2024.
  11. Web site: Wigan 0–0 Rotherham: Latics and Millers play out goalless draw on final day. BBC Sport. 8 May 2023. 23 May 2024.
  12. Web site: Wigan Athletic boss 'made big Sam Tickle decision six months ago'. Wigan Today. Kendrick. Paul. 6 August 2023. 23 May 2024.
  13. Web site: Latics confirm squad numbers for 2023/24 Sky Bet League One campaign. wiganathletic.com. 3 August 2023. 23 May 2024.
  14. Web site: Wigan Athletic boss insists his Young England star is 'best in the EFL'. Wigan Today. Kendrick. Paul. 21 January 2024. 23 May 2024.
  15. Web site: SAM TICKLE VOTED THE 2023/24 WIGAN ATHLETIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR!. wiganathletic.com. 25 April 2024. 23 May 2024.
  16. Web site: Sam Tickle commits long-term future to Wigan Athletic. wiganathletic.com. 23 May 2024. 23 May 2024.
  17. Web site: Preston North End face new transfer rival for 'best goalkeeper' outside the Premier League. Lancashire Evening Post. Jones. Jordan. 3 April 2024. 23 May 2024.
  18. Web site: England MU21s squad named for Luxembourg. englandfootball.com. 1 September 2023. 1 September 2023.
  19. Web site: Report: England MU21s 7-0 Luxembourg. englandfootball.com. 26 March 2024. 27 March 2024.
  20. News: 2023/24 End of Season Awards . Wigan Athletic FC . 25 April 2024 . 1 May 2024.