Mark Ricketts (footballer) explained

Mark Ricketts
Fullname:Mark James Ricketts
Birth Date:1984 10, df=y
Birth Place:Sidcup, England[1]
Currentclub:Boreham Wood (assistant manager)
Position:Defender / Midfielder
Youthyears1:2002–2005
Youthclubs1:Charlton Athletic
Years1:2005–2006
Clubs1:Charlton Athletic
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2005–2006
Clubs2:Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
Caps2:5
Goals2:0
Years3:2006–2009
Clubs3:Ebbsfleet United
Caps3:94
Goals3:1
Years4:2009–2016
Clubs4:Woking
Caps4:240
Goals4:3
Years5:2016–2023
Clubs5:Boreham Wood
Caps5:216
Goals5:1
Years6:2023–2024
Clubs6:Dulwich Hamlet
Caps6:17
Goals6:0
Totalcaps:572
Totalgoals:5
Club-Update:14:24, 15 May 2024 (UTC)

Mark James Ricketts (born 7 October 1984) is an English former footballer who played as a defender. He is currently assistant manager at Boreham Wood.

He previously played in the Football League for Milton Keynes Dons and in the National League with Ebbsfleet United, Woking and Boreham Wood featuring over 500 times.

Career

Born in Sidcup, Ricketts began his career at Charlton Athletic in 2000 but made no appearances for the first team. He had a loan spell at League One club Milton Keynes Dons in the 2005–06 season.[2] He made his debut in the FA Cup first-round tie at Lincoln City, and played twice more before suffering a knee ligament injury. Despite the injury, his loan spell was extended for a second and third month,[3] and he made seven league and cup appearances for MK Dons.

At the end of the season, he was released by Charlton after the club decided not to offer him a new contract,[4] and joined Gravesend and Northfleet in August 2006.[5] He made 31 appearances in the 2006–07 season, and his performances were rewarded by the newly renamed Ebbsfleet United with a new contract in May 2007.[6] A knee injury that required surgery interrupted the beginning of Ricketts' 2007–08 season,[7] but he returned to the side at the end of September 2007 and went on to make 30 appearances that season. He was put on standby for the England C squad in February 2008,[8] and collected a winners' medal when Ebbsfleet won the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium in May 2008.[9] He signed a new contract in June 2008.[10]

In June 2009, Ricketts signed for Conference South club Woking.[11] In 2010, Ricketts was made club captain. Ricketts quickly became a fan favourite at Woking and went on to make over 200 league appearances before leaving in June 2016.

On 10 June 2016, Ricketts joined National League rival Boreham Wood on a free transfer.[12] On 6 August 2016, Ricketts made his Boreham Wood debut in a 1–0 victory over Forest Green Rovers, playing the full 90 minutes.[13] On 6 February 2022, Ricketts scored Boreham Wood's only goal in a 1–0 shock away win against Bournemouth in the FA Cup fourth round.[14]

On 4 June 2023, Ricketts agreed to join Dulwich Hamlet ahead of the 2023–24 campaign following his release from Boreham Wood and ultimately ending his seven-year spell with the side.[15]

In April 2024, Ricketts announced that he would retire following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season.[16]

Coaching career

On 15 May 2024, Ricketts returned to Boreham Wood as assistant manager to the newly appointed Ross Jenkins ahead of their first season back in the National League South.[17]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Charlton Athletic2005–06Premier League00000000
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)2005–06League One5020000070
Gravesend & Northfleet /
Ebbsfleet United
2006–07Conference National300001[18] 0310
2007–08Conference Premier2900010300
2008–09Conference Premier3511030391
Total94110501001
Woking2009–10Conference South372506[19] 0482
2010–11Conference South381606[20] 0501
2011–12Conference South2102010240
2012–13Conference Premier4501020480
2013–14Conference Premier4101010430
2014–15Conference Premier2200000220
2015–16National League3601040410
Total24031602002763
Boreham Wood2016–17National League3802060460
2017–18[21] National League421307[22] 0521
2018–19[23] National League4003020450
2019–20National League320103[24] 0360
2020–21National League2602110291
2021–22National League2606120341
2022–23National League120202[25] 0160
Total21611922302583
Dulwich Hamlet2023–24[26] Isthmian League Premier Division1702020210
Career total5725402005006627

Honours

Ebbsfleet United

2007–08

Woking

2011–12

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mark Ricketts - player profile. eurosport.com. 17 November 2016.
  2. News: Milton Keynes seal Ricketts loan . BBC Sport . 4 November 2005 . 26 July 2008.
  3. News: Ricketts is back at Milton Keynes . BBC Sport . 13 December 2005 . 26 July 2008.
  4. News: Charlton release reserve team duo . BBC Sport . 20 April 2006 . 26 July 2008.
  5. News: Fleet recruit ex-Addicks defender . BBC Sport . 10 August 2006 . 26 July 2008.
  6. News: New deals for seven at Ebbsfleet . BBC Sport . 14 May 2007 . 26 July 2008.
  7. News: Ebbsfleet's Ricketts has surgery . BBC Sport . 29 August 2007 . 26 July 2008.
  8. News: Fleet's Cronin in England call-up . BBC Sport . 6 February 2008 . 26 July 2008.
  9. News: Ebbsfleet 1–0 Torquay . BBC Sport . 15 May 2008 . 15 June 2008.
  10. News: Daish reshuffles Ebbsfleet squad . BBC Sport . 1 June 2008 . 26 July 2008.
  11. News: New signing . 5 June 2009 . Woking F.C. . 5 June 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090607234156/http://wokingfc.co.uk/news/detail/new-signing/1492/ . 7 June 2009.
  12. News: Garrard makes his mark . Boreham Wood F.C. . 10 June 2016 . 10 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160701011023/http://www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk/garrard-makes-his-mark/ . 1 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Boreham Wood vs. Forest Green Rovers . Soccerway . 6 August 2016 . 13 August 2016.
  14. News: Bournemouth 0–1 Boreham Wood: National League side stun Championship opponents to book FA Cup last-16 clash with Everton . Sky Sports . 6 February 2022 . 7 February 2022.
  15. News: Ricketts Adds Vast Experience To Hamlet Squad . . Tom . Bale . 4 June 2023 . 4 June 2023.
  16. 1780638493154181569. Club Captain Mark Ricketts has announced his retirement from football. His career has spanned 3 decades and Ricketts will go down as one of the greats of Non League football. Thank you for everything Ricko! #DHFC . DulwichHamletFC. Dulwich Hamlet F.C.. 17 April 2024. 15 May 2024.
  17. Web site: INTRODUCING YOUR NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM. www.borehamwoodfootballclub.co.uk. 15 May 2024. 15 May 2024.
  18. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  19. Three appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference South play-offs
  20. Four appearances in FA Trophy, two in Conference South play-offs
  21. Web site: Mark Ricketts . AylesburyUnitedFC.co.uk . Aylesbury United FC/Luke Buckingham-Brown . 20 February 2021.
  22. Four appearances in FA Trophy, three in National League play-offs
  23. Web site: M. Ricketts . Soccerway . Perform Group . 20 February 2021.
  24. One appearance in FA Trophy, two in National League play-offs
  25. Appearances in National League play-offs
  26. Web site: Dulwich Hamlet – Appearances – Mark Ricketts – 2023-2024. www.footballwebpages.co.uk. 15 May 2024.