Another International Class Signing - Michael Ricketts Signs For Southend

Steve Tilson is certainly proving he isn't messing around and that the Shrimpers are not just around to make up the numbers next season. Following the signing of Scottish international defender Steven Hammell, It was confirmed yesterday afternoon that perhaps a more recognised face will be seen at Roots Hall next season.

Ricketts, 26, was flown out with Hammell to Bermuda as the team prepare for the season ahead, and whilst the former Bolton striker was probably spending his plane flight relishing the challenge ahead, Southend fans all around the globe were gloating as they proudly announced the first ever England capped player to be registered with the club.

For Birmingham born striker Ricketts, it all started at now League Two club Walsall, who were then in what would now be the Championship. Having made 33 appearances in all as a winger, Ricketts moved onto Bolton Wanderers managed by Sam Allardyce, and it was at the Reebok Stadium that his career really took off. In his first season, 2000/01, Ricketts gave himself a name by scoring 23 goals in 25 starts as the Wanderers bounced back into the Premiership. The step up didn't stop the goals flowing for the 26-year-old, and fifteen goals in 28 starts and fifteen substitute appearances in 2001/02 helped Allardyces men stay in the Premiership, and the world once again take notice of the striker.

In that season, the frontmans biggest career moment to date had happened. Sven Goran-Eriksson had named Ricketts in his squad to face Holland in Amsterdam and the forward played the first half of the game, being replaced at half time.

Despite this incredible pinnacle, things gradually went wrong for the talented striker. The following season saw Ricketts enduring a frustrating season on the sidelines just as the world was beginning to see him as the next big thing. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all linked with his signature, however having scored a respectable eight goals in nineteen games and once again contributing to another survival campaign with Bolton, Ricketts felt he needed a fresh start.

So, it was off to Middlesbrough for the now well-known goalscorer for a fee of 2.2million pounds on the last day of January 2003, and increase of 1.7million pounds of what Bolton paid for him some three years earlier.

The move turned out to be a nightmare. Ricketts was again plagued by injury and struggled to regain the confidence that had seen him set the worlds best league alight. His spell at the Riverside stadium ended with just four goals from seventeen starts and 22 substitute appearances.

In what was a huge risk, Ricketts dropped a division in 2004/05, signing for Leeds United who had dropped out of the Premiership the season before. It was expected that Ricketts would end the season as top scorer, and a young Leeds side would be promoted straight back up to the Premiership, however that was well wide of what really happened. Whilst the Shrimpers were setting League Two on fire, Ricketts again misplaced his shooting boots – scoring just one goal in eleven starts for the Yorkshire men, and was even loaned out to Stoke City in Feburary 2005.

After another disappointing season by his standards, Ricketts finally rediscovered his scoring touch, and whilst not completely back to his best, showed that can still produce some of that amazing talent he owns. Ricketts had another go at Leeds, and was unfortunate not to hold down a first team place – scoring one goal in two games at the start of the season, but a combination of his wages and competition for his position saw him shipped off on loan again, this time to Cardiff City. In a team that at the time were struggling, Ricketts managed to score five goals in seventeen starts, roughly a goal every three and a half games.

Following his spell at City, he then moved onto Burnley for the latter stages of the season before his release from Leeds a month ago.

Despite some difficult seasons in football, Michael Ricketts comes to Roots Hall off the back of a season that has seen a vast improvement, and glimpses of his better days at Bolton. Hopefully his experience can help Freddy Eastwood, and his goals will help tne club suffice in the Championship.

Adam Duffill
www.thelittlegazette.com