The former Hull City star pulled off a dramatic career pivot
Sam Ricketts, pictured during his Hull City days(Image: Simon Renilson)
Former Hull City star Sam Ricketts turned his back on football to work in construction. Ricketts, 44, played a huge part in Hull City’s stunning promotion to the Premier League in 2008/09.
The Tigers are once again on the verge of the promised land this season, with the play-off final less than a week away. However, the club’s iconic journey to the Premier League 18 years ago has lived long in the memory.
City were promoted from the Championship, via the play-offs, thanks to Dean Windass’ stunning volley to beat Bristol City. Ricketts turned out 129 times for the Tigers between 2006 and 2009 and represented the club in the Premier League.
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After leaving East Yorkshire, Ricketts, who also managed 52 caps for Wales, played for Bolton, Wolves, Swindon Town and Coventry. Management stints with Wrexham and Shrewsbury Town followed.
Following his exit from Shrewsbury in November 2020, the former right-back began a new life as a builder’s merchant, leaving the game behind. He explained in 2021: “I’m done at the minute – I’ve opened a builder’s merchants instead.
“I’ll do that for a couple of years and pick and choose what I do in football. I don’t want to move, stay away from home five nights a week, that’s just me.”
Ricketts will always be linked with the Tigers’ legendary season and promotion under ex-manager Phil Brown. The team climbed up from 18th in early October to second by the middle of April.
The ex-defender has fond memories of the iconic season. He even compared it to Leicester City’s famous Premier League title triumph of 2016
“We didn’t come into that season wanting to get promoted,” said Ricketts in 2018. “I’m not sure that was the aim for anyone. But we gradually built as the season went on and improved as a team.
“We had good players who worked incredibly hard for each other. Everyone bought into what we were trying to do. The team was full of players who had never been in the Premier League before, so once all those eyes were fixed on the possibility of winning promotion, it galvanised everyone.
“It was a bit like when Leicester won the Premier League. They never thought they were going to win the Premier League at the start of that season, but I will guarantee you that for the last few months of that season, they ate, slept and breathed those possibilities. That was us in 2008.”
City had been threatened with relegation during Ricketts’ first season at the MKM Stadium. He added, “What the season before did, in staying up the way we did, was to start building momentum. We had momentum from a good, positive end to the previous season. We’d be on a good run to stay up.”
The £300,000 signing from Swansea City had not always convinced during his debut season in East Yorkshire. He eventually discovered his rhythm in the Tigers’ defence, however, making 49 appearances in the 2007/08 campaign.
“It took me a while to settle into the area, and only in the second year was I happy and confident again,” admitted Ricketts. “You only have a handful in your career, but I look back on 2007-08 as one of my best. I felt every week I would play well and, generally, I did that.”
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