Sam Tickle still hasn't forgotten Latics' painful defeat at Manchester United in the 2020 FA Youth Cupplaceholder image
Sam Tickle still hasn't forgotten Latics' painful defeat at Manchester United in the 2020 FA Youth Cup
Sam Tickle has a double reason to want Wigan Athletic to be handed a trip to Manchester United in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup.
Firstly, the lifelong United fan would love the chance to take on his heroes at Old Trafford.
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Secondly, Tickle is still smarting from his previous visit to the 'Theatre of Dreams’.
February 2020...days before Covid arrived on these shores, Tickle was in goal for Latics against United in the quarter-final of the FA Youth Cup.
A Latics side featuring James Carragher, Jensen Weir, Baba Adeeko, Luke Robinson and Thelo Aasgaard - with Charlie Hughes an unused substitute - pushed United all the way before bowing out 2-1.
A memorable night for the club and its Academy - but one that still annoys Tickle to this day.
"I still remember it so vividly," he said. "We should have won. If Joffy (Joe Gelhardt) had been fit, we would have won.
"Looking back, Covid happened soon after so it wouldn't have continued. But you still look back and wonder…
"Memories of the night...I was absolutely bricking it...but once I was out there, I absolutely loved it.
"We took so many fans there...it was a fantastic night for the club and everyone involved with the Academy.
"So going back there would be nice...if not, maybe Spurs, Everton, Liverpool or Arsenal away...but United away would be the dream.
"I'm a big United fan too...so United at Old Trafford...that's the one."
Latics – who lost 2-0 to the Red Devils on home soil at the third-round stage two seasons ago – are in the hat for the draw thanks to a penalty shoot-out victory over League Two outfit Barrow at the weekend.
Ironically, Barrow's Charlie McCann - who assisted the Cumbrians' second goal in the 2-2 draw, and who sent a fierce drive whistling just past Tickle's post in extra time - was in the United side for that FA Youth Cup tie six seasons ago.
Also impressing for Barrow was former Latics Academy skipper Scott Smith, who came desperately close to winning it for the visitors, only to see a deflected strike from distance brilliantly saved by Tickle.
"I just had a feeling Scottie was going to score against us, or at least come close to," laughed the Latics custodian.
"He's such a great lad, and it was so sad to see him go...I spoke to him after the game, it was good to catch up.
"He got a great ovation from the home fans when he came off, and that was no more than he deserved. I think he had a sore groin, that's why he had to come off.
"I was wondering if he'd have taken a penalty at the end. Oh I would have loved that...the mind games...I know I would have done him, got in his head...absolutely!”
As it was, Tickle’s save from Ben Jackson proved decisive in sending Latics through.
"We do our research, we do work together with the goalies and the staff...and it paid off,” added Tickle.
"There's also the mental aspect of it...you're trying to get into the head of the penalty taker...and it becomes a mental game.
"They should score really from 12 yards...it's almost a free goal really...so to make a save is massively important.”
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