Sam Tickle

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sam Tickle

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Samuel Lloyd Tickle{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/202021/efl-professional-retain-list---2019-20.pdf |title=EFL Professional retain list 2019-20|publisher=EFL.com|access-date=11 August 2021}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2002|3|31}}

| birth_place = Warrington, England

| height = 6 ft 2 in

| position = Goalkeeper

| currentclub = Wigan Athletic

| clubnumber = 1

| youthyears1 = 2012–2018

| youthclubs1 = Wigan Athletic

| years1 = 2018–2019

| clubs1 = Pilkington

| caps1 = 21

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2021–

| clubs2 = Wigan Athletic

| caps2 = 103

| 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

| club-update = 10:17, 18 March 2025 (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 {{English football updater|WiganAth}} club Wigan Athletic.

Club career

Sam Tickle is a youth product of Wigan Athletic, having joined their youth academy in 2012.{{cite web |title=Meet Wigan Athletic's New Under 18s For 2019-2021 |url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2019/april/MEET-WIGAN-ATHLETIC-S-NEW-UNDER-18S-FOR-2019-2021/ |publisher=Wigan Athletic |access-date=16 December 2024 |date=24 April 2019}} He was released at the end of the 2018 season. He then signed for Pilkington, making 21 league appearances{{cite web|url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statsForPlayer.html?personID=873324527|title=Samuel Lloyd Tickle Player Stats|website=fulltime.thefa.com|accessdate=11 January 2024}} and was named player of the season as they won the Cheshire Football League.{{cite tweet|user=Pilkingtonfc|title=PLAYER OF THE YEAR & PLAYERS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Congratulations to @SamTickle3 on winning the double!|date=18 May 2019|accessdate=1 September 2023|number=1129842863230078977}} 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 as a scholar.

He made his professional debut with Wigan in a 2–0 EFL Trophy loss to Crewe Alexandra on 5 October 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2021/october/Sam-Tickle-It-is-a-dream-come-true-/|title=Wigan Athletic FC - Sam Tickle | "It is a dream come true."|first=Wigan Athletic|last=FC|website=Wigan Athletic FC|date=5 October 2021 }}

On 19 March 2022, Tickle joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Nantwich Town on a youth loan until 14 April 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2022/march/18/academy-sam-tickle-joins-nantwich-town-on-loan/ |title=Sam Tickle joins Nantwich Town on loan |publisher=Wigan Athletic FC |date=19 March 2022 |accessdate=21 March 2022}}

In July 2022, he joined Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands on loan until January 2023.{{cite web |title=Academy | Sam Tickle Joins Warrington Rylands On Loan Until January |url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2022/july/27/academy-sam-tickle-joins-warrington-rylands-on-loan-until-january/ |publisher=Wigan Athletic |access-date=27 July 2022 |date=27 July 2022}} He made two appearances for the club,{{cite web |title=Warrington Rylands – Appearances – Sam Tickle |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/warrington-rylands/appearances/sam-tickle/924622 |publisher=Football Web Pages |access-date=24 August 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=Report: Blues 0-1 Wigan Athletic |url=https://www.bcfc.com/news/all/report-blues-0-1-wigan-athletic |publisher=Birmingham City Football Club |access-date=24 August 2022}}

Despite off-the-field issues within the club, Tickle signed a new contract with Wigan Athletic in April 2023.{{cite web|url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2023/april/14/academy-three-u21s-agree-contract-extensions-/|title=Academy {{!}} Three U21s agree contract extensions|website=wiganathletic.com|date=14 April 2023|accessdate=23 May 2024}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65445709|title=Wigan 0–0 Rotherham: Latics and Millers play out goalless draw on final day|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 May 2023|accessdate=23 May 2024}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/wigan-athletic-boss-made-big-sam-tickle-decision-six-months-ago-4245268|title=Wigan Athletic boss 'made big Sam Tickle decision six months ago'|publisher=Wigan Today|last=Kendrick|first=Paul|date=6 August 2023|accessdate=23 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2023/august/03/latics-confirm-squad-numbers-for-2023-24-sky-bet-league-one-campaign/|title=Latics confirm squad numbers for 2023/24 Sky Bet League One campaign|website=wiganathletic.com|date=3 August 2023|accessdate=23 May 2024}} Following a highly impressive debut season that saw him labelled the best goalkeeper in the English Football League by his manager,{{cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/wigan-athletic-boss-insists-his-young-england-star-is-best-in-the-efl-4486934|title=Wigan Athletic boss insists his Young England star is 'best in the EFL'|publisher=Wigan Today|last=Kendrick|first=Paul|date=21 January 2024|accessdate=23 May 2024}} Tickle was named Wigan's Player of the Year, the first goalkeeper to win the award in thirteen years. {{cite web|url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2024/april/25/sam-tickle-voted-the-2023-24-wigan-athletic-player-of-the-year-/|title=SAM TICKLE VOTED THE 2023/24 WIGAN ATHLETIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR!|website=wiganathletic.com|date=25 April 2024|accessdate=23 May 2024}} Following the conclusion of the season, he signed a new four-year contract amid reported interest from a number of Championship clubs.{{cite web|url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2024/may/23/sam-tickle-commits-long-term-future-to-wigan-athletic/|title=Sam Tickle commits long-term future to Wigan Athletic|website=wiganathletic.com|date=23 May 2024|accessdate=23 May 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/sam-tickle-preston-north-end-sunderland-everton-birmingham-city-4577563|title=Preston North End face new transfer rival for 'best goalkeeper' outside the Premier League|publisher=Lancashire Evening Post|last=Jones|first=Jordan|date=3 April 2024|accessdate=23 May 2024}}

On 27 April 2025, Tickle was named in the EFL League One Team of the Season.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Wigan Athletic |date=2025-04-27 |title=Sam Tickle named in the EFL Sky Bet League One Team of the Season! |url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2025/april/27/sam-tickle-named-in-the-efl-sky-bet-league-one-team-of-the-season-/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Wigan Athletic FC}}

International career

In September 2023, Tickle was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time.{{cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Sep/01/england-mu21s-squad-named-to-play-luxembourg-20230901|title=England MU21s squad named for Luxembourg|website=englandfootball.com|date=1 September 2023|accessdate=1 September 2023}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Mar/26/england-mu21s-7-0-luxembourg-match-report-20242603|title=Report: England MU21s 7-0 Luxembourg|website=englandfootball.com|date=26 March 2024|accessdate=27 March 2024}}

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|EFL Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="6" \|Wigan Athletic \|2020–21 \|League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021–22 \|League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FLT\|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}	0	1	0
2022–23 \|Championship \|1	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	1	0
2023–24 \|League One \|46	0	3	0	1	0	2{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	52	0
2024–25 \|League One \|44 \|0 \|4 \|0 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|49 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !91	0	7	0	2	0	3	0	103	0
Nantwich Town (loan) \|2021–22 \|Northern Premier Division \|7	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	7	0
Warrington Rylands (loan) \|2022–23 \|Northern Premier Division \|6	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	6	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !104	0	7	0	2	0	3	0	116	0

Honours

Individual

Wigan Athletic Player of the Year: 2023–24{{cite news |url=https://wiganathletic.com/news/2024/april/25/2023-24-end-of-season-awards-winners-revealed-/ |title=2023/24 End of Season Awards |website=Wigan Athletic FC |date=25 April 2024 |access-date=1 May 2024}}
Wigan Athletic Players' Player of the Year: 2023–24
EFL League One Team of the Season: 2024–25{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c985rrjgy7yo |title=Burnley's Parker and Blades' Hamer win EFL awards |first=Ben |last=Ashton |website=BBC Sport |date=27 April 2025 |access-date=28 April 2025}}

References

External links

{{Soccerway|sam-tickle/591743}}
[https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/northern-premier-league-premier-division/appearances/2022-2023/sam-tickle/924622 Warrington Rylands stats]

{{Navboxes

| title = Awards

| bg = Gold

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Category:2002 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Warrington

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players

Category:Nantwich Town F.C. players

Category:Men's association football goalkeepers

Category:English Football League players

Category:Warrington Rylands 1906 F.C. players

Category:Northern Premier League players

Category:21st-century English sportsmen

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|FA Cup !colspan="2"\|EFL Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="6" \|Wigan Athletic \|2020–21 \|League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021–22 \|League One \|0	0	0	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FLT\|Appearances in EFL Trophy}}	0	1	0
2022–23 \|Championship \|1	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	1	0
2023–24 \|League One \|46	0	3	0	1	0	2{{efn\|name=FLT}}	0	52	0
2024–25 \|League One \|44 \|0 \|4 \|0 \|1 \|0 \|0 \|0 \|49 \|0
colspan="2" \|Total !91	0	7	0	2	0	3	0	103	0
Nantwich Town (loan) \|2021–22 \|Northern Premier Division \|7	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	7	0
Warrington Rylands (loan) \|2022–23 \|Northern Premier Division \|6	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	6	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !104	0	7	0	2	0	3	0	116	0