Michael Ricketts

Michael Barrington Ricketts (born 4 December 1978) is an English former footballer. He played as a striker and was capped once by England, in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2002.[1] [2]

For the American musician, see Michael Ricketts (musician).

Michael Ricketts
Ricketts in 2007 while on loan at Walsall
Personal information
Full name Michael Barrington Ricketts
Date of birth (1978-12-04) 4 December 1978
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Playing position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Walsall 76 (14)
2000–2003 Bolton Wanderers 98 (37)
2003–2004 Middlesbrough 32 (3)
2004–2006 Leeds United 25 (0)
2005 → Stoke City (loan) 11 (0)
2005–2006 → Cardiff City (loan) 17 (5)
2006 → Burnley (loan) 13 (2)
2006–2007 Southend United 2 (0)
2007 Preston North End 14 (1)
2007–2008 Oldham Athletic 9 (2)
2007–2008 → Walsall (loan) 12 (3)
2008–2009 Walsall 28 (9)
2009–2010 Tranmere Rovers 12 (2)
Total 349 (78)
National team
2002 England 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Ricketts had a 14-year career which saw him play for Walsall, Bolton Wanderers, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Burnley, Southend United, Preston North End, Oldham Athletic and Tranmere Rovers.

Club career

Walsall

Ricketts began his career at Walsall, for which he signed in 1996. He made 76 league appearances for them, scoring 14 times.

Bolton Wanderers

In July 2000, then First Division side Bolton Wanderers signed him for £400,000.[3] He started his Bolton career in impressive style, scoring 24 times as Bolton won promotion to the Premier League through the playoffs. His finest moments at Bolton Wanderers include sealing victory against Preston North End in the Division One Play-off final in 2001 and scoring the winning goal at Old Trafford in a 2–1 win for Bolton over Manchester United in the 2001–02 Premier League season.[4]

Ricketts continued scoring in his first season in the Premier League, hitting 15 goals by February, and this form led to his call-up for England's friendly against The Netherlands in February 2002. Ricketts played 45 minutes in that game but failed to score, and subsequently did not score for Bolton again all season.[5]

Middlesbrough

In January 2003, Middlesbrough spent £3.5 million to sign him from Bolton.[6] He failed to recapture his goal-scoring form, netting just four times in 38 matches. While at Middlesbrough he did, however, win the League Cup in the 2003–04 season, coincidentally against Bolton.

Leeds United

In June 2004, he signed for Championship side Leeds United on a free transfer. Ricketts failed to impress, failing to score in 25 league appearances, although he did manage a solitary goal in the League Cup against Swindon Town.[7]

Loans to Stoke, Cardiff and Burnley

He was then loaned out to Stoke City in February, but also failed to impress there, and returned to Leeds. He made five more appearances, scoring once against Oldham Athletic, again in the League Cup.[8] He was then loaned out to Cardiff, where he scored four goals in 11 appearances, before returning to Leeds. On 30 January 2006 he signed for Championship side Burnley in a loan deal that would keep him at Turf Moor until the end of the season. Despite scoring twice in his first three matches against Plymouth Argyle[9] and Ipswich Town,[10] he again failed to impress (he did not score again) and returned to Leeds after the season had finished.

Move to Southend

On 30 June 2006, Ricketts signed a two-year deal with Championship side Southend United with an option to extend for another year. A clause in the contract he signed stated that he was prohibited from playing against Leeds United. However, after only a couple of months into the new season, Southend released Ricketts on the basis that he was overweight and had put on weight since joining the club, questioning his level of fitness.

Preston and Oldham

After leaving Southend, Ricketts joined Preston North End, playing a handful of games for their first team. In March 2007 he scored the winner against Ipswich Town.[11] However, Ricketts' fitness and his inability to break into the first team on a regular basis led to him being released by Preston on 8 May 2007, again leaving him without a club until being picked up by Oldham Athletic, for whom he signed until 2010.[12] He scored two league goals during his time at Oldham, in victories over Swansea City[13] and his former club Walsall.[14]

Walsall loan

On 2 November 2007, he returned to his first club Walsall on a three-month loan deal from Oldham.[15] He made his second debut for Walsall in a league match against Cheltenham Town on 3 November. On 31 January 2008, transfer deadline day, Ricketts had his contract cancelled by Oldham Athletic.

Return to Walsall

On 24 July 2008, Ricketts once again rejoined Walsall and scored nine goals in his third spell there. At the game against Southend United played at Roots Hall on 7 March 2009, Ricketts was sent off in the 14th minute when he attempted to punch Kevin Betsy.[16] At the end of the season he was released.[17]

Tranmere Rovers

On 14 August 2009, it was announced that Ricketts had signed a one-year deal with Tranmere Rovers (his 11th professional club). Ricketts stated playing for John Barnes was a major factor in his decision to join the club.[18] He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a League Cup game against his former club Bolton Wanderers on 25 August. He scored his first goal for Tranmere in a 2–1 defeat at Exeter City on 19 September 2009.[19] On 21 January 2010, Ricketts had cancelled his contract by mutual consent.

Personal life

On 17 January 2011, Ricketts pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault after punching and headbutting his ex-girlfriend.[20] He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs.[20][21]

Career statistics

Club

Source:[22]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 1995–96 Second Division 1000000010
1996–97 Second Division 111001000121
1997–98 Second Division 241201041312
1998–99 Second Division 8000100090
1999–2000 First Division 32112030003711
Total 76144060419015
Bolton Wanderers 2000–01 First Division 39194211324724
2001–02 Premier League 37122132004215
2002–03 Premier League 226110000237
Total 983774433211246
Middlesbrough 2002–03 Premier League 9100000091
2003–04 Premier League 232205100303
Total 323205100394
Leeds United 2004–05 Championship 210003100241
2005–06 Championship 4000110051
Total 250004200292
Stoke City (loan) 2004–05 Championship 110000000110
Cardiff City (loan) 2005–06 Championship 175000000175
Burnley (loan) 2005–06 Championship 132000000132
Southend United 2006–07 Championship 2000000020
Preston North End 2006–07 Championship 141200000161
Oldham Athletic 2007–08 League One 92102010132
Walsall 2007–08 League One 123420000165
2008–09 League One 2891111213212
Tranmere Rovers 2009–10 League One 122401000172
Career Total 349782572379440696
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs, Football League Trophy.

International

Source:[23]

National teamYearAppsGoals
England 200210
Total10
gollark: Hmm. He tweets frequently, we should have to wait until tomorrow at worst.
gollark: You, however, claimed I was left, wrongly.
gollark: I certainly am!
gollark: Incorrect.
gollark: Ah, it appears that I am *incapable* of reading.

References
  1. "England Record". England Football Online. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  2. G. & J. Rollin, Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2003–2004, Headline Book Publishing, 2003, p. 836
  3. "Saddlers net Ricketts windfall". BBC Sport. 4 February 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  4. "Ricketts snatches Bolton win". BBC Sport. 20 October 2001. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  5. "ANNI MIRABILES (PART II)". guardian.sport. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
  6. "Ricketts seals Boro move". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  7. "Leeds 1–0 Swindon". BBC Sport. 21 September 2004. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  8. "Leeds 2–0 Oldham". BBC Sport. 23 August 2005. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  9. "Burnley 1–0 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 4 February 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  10. "Ipswich 2–1 Burnley". BBC Sport. 11 February 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  11. "Preston 1–0 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 13 March 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  12. "Preston boss lets five players go". BBC Sport. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
  13. "Oldham 2–1 Swansea". BBC Sport. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  14. "Walsall 0–3 Oldham". BBC Sport. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  15. "Ricketts rejoins Saddlers on loan" BBC Sport Retrieved on 2 November 2007
  16. "Southend United – Match Report – 07 March 2009, Southend 2 – 0 Walsall". Southend United. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  17. "Saddlers release experienced trio". BBC Sport. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
  18. Yahoo! Sport
  19. "Exeter 2 – 1 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  20. Footballer Michael Ricketts sorry for girlfriend attack – BBC News, 17 January 2011
  21. "Football star Michael Ricketts admits head-butting his girlfriend outside restaurant for 'being disloyal'". Daily Mail. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  22. Michael Ricketts at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  23. Michael Ricketts at National-Football-Teams.com
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