*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Brian Wickens
Appearances: 16+12 Goals: 2
Date / Year of birth: 1974
Position: Midfielder / Utility
Season of first appearance: 1995/96
Season of last appearance: 1996/97
Also played for: Ramsgate, Canterbury City and St.Margaret's
Thanet-born son of 1970's Margate player Bob Wickens who played for Thanet United's Under-12 side during the 1985/86 campaign and progressed through the club's older youth teams before moving to Ramsgate in the summer of 1990.
Brian played for the Rams' Under-18's and reserve sides during the 1990/91 season and in October 1991 he made one reserve team appearance for Margate during a short trial spell before going back to Southwood. Brian made his first team debut for the Rams later in the 1991/92 campaign and then joined Margate in the summer of 1992.
He featured in some of the first team's pre-season friendlies and then played regularly for the Under-18's throughout 1992/93. Brian was sent off twice for them - in a 2-1 defeat at Sittingbourne on 1.11.92 and a 2-0 defeat at Folkestone on 6.1.93. He scored nine goals in 27 Under-18 appearances and also played nine times for the reserves in the Kent Midweek League in addition to being an unused sub for a first team game.
Brian went back to Ramsgate early in the 1993/94 campaign and then rejoined Margate in the summer of 1995.
On 19.8.95 he finally made his first team debut when he came on as a substitute in a 3-1 defeat at Trowbridge and Brian also appeared as a sub in Margate's next three games. On 9.9.95 he made his first start when he played at right-back in a 5-2 win at Corinthian Casuals in the FA Cup and Brian had the distinction of scoring one of the goals. He then featured in Margate's next nine matches, starting eight of them, and showed his versatility by appearing in midfield, at right-back and at left-back before losing his place after wearing the number three shirt in a 2-1 home defeat against Bashley on 17.10.95. Brian didn't make another start until 16.12.95 when he played at right-back in a 4-1 win at Clevedon and he then featured in three of the next four games. On 1.1.96 Brian scored an own goal in a 2-1 win at Tonbridge and on 11.2.96 he played as a striker in a 3-1 defeat at Cinderford. He made a few more sporadic appearances after that, the last of them in a 2-0 win over Fareham at Hartsdown Park on 21.4.96, and finished the season having scored once in 27 first team outings (11 as sub).
Brian stayed at Margate for the 1996/97 campaign but only made one first team appearance, coming off the subs bench to score from distance in a 3-2 defeat at St.Leonards Stamcroft on 11.12.96. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said it was "a superb goal" and "a 25-yard blaster" which dipped over future Charlton keeper Sasa Ilic. Brian left the club at the end of the season.
Brian rejoined Ramsgate for 1997/98 and later had a spell with Canterbury that included the 1999/00 campaign before joining St.Margaret's of the Kent County League. Brian spent several seasons there up to and including 2004/05.
During the 2005/06 campaign he was playing local amateur football in Thanet and in December 2005 Brian was sent off for violent conduct whilst playing for The Dolphin in a match against The Hussar. He was involved in an altercation with the Hussar's goalkeeper that resulted in the match being abandoned and in February 2006 the Isle of Thanet Gazette reported that Brian had been given a 112 day ban by the Kent County Football Association.
He was still living locally in 2012 and was a member of the Westgate and Birchington Golf Club.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1995/96 (MFC) |
16 (51) |
11 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (11TH OF 22) |
2QR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1996/97 (MFC) |
0 (48) |
1 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 22) |
PR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |