*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:17, 9 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:01, 27 March 2024 (UTC)
Sam Tickle is a youth product of Wigan Athletic, having joined their youth academy in 2012.[2] He was released at the end of the 2018 season. He then signed for Pilkington, making 21 league appearances[3] and was named player of the season as they won the Cheshire Football League.[4] 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.[2]
In July 2022, he joined Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands on loan until January 2023.[7] He made two appearances for the club,[8] 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.[9]
Despite off-the-field issues within the club, Tickle signed a new contract with Wigan Athletic in April 2023.[10] 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.[11]
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.[12][13] Following a highly impressive debut season that saw him labelled the best goalkeeper in the English Football League by his manager,[14] Tickle was named Wigan's Player of the Year, the first goalkeeper to win the award in thirteen years.[15] Following the conclusion of the season, he signed a new four-year contract amid reported interest from a number of Championship clubs.[16][17]