# Josh Vickers

Joshua Anthony Vickers (born 1 December 1995) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for EFL Championship club Derby County.
Vickers was on the books of Arsenal and Swansea City without playing first-team football for either, and made his Football League debut while on loan at Barnet. He then had spells at Lincoln City and Rotherham United before joining Derby County in 2023.

## Career
### Early career

Vickers began his career at Arsenal's Academy. As a second-year scholar, he joined Isthmian League side Canvey Island on loan in August 2013 where he played 30 league games. before returning to the Gunners and signing a professional contract. Vickers then joined Concord Rangers, of the Conference South, on a one-month loan in November 2014, which was later extended until the end of the 2014–15 season. In August 2015, Vickers signed for Swansea City on a two-year deal. He joined Barnet on a season-long loan in July 2016, and made his English Football League debut when he started against Cambridge United on 6 August 2016.

### Lincoln City

He was released by Swansea at the end of the 2016–17 season. Following his release, Vickers joined League Two club Lincoln City on a two-year deal. On 28 May 2020, it was announced Vickers would leave the club at the end of his current contract.

### Rotherham United

On 6 November 2020, Vickers signed for Rotherham United on a deal until the end of the season. Vickers did not make an appearance for Rotherham during the 2020–21 season, but he signed a new contract until June 2023 at the conclusion of that season During the 2021–22 season Vickers shared goalkeeping duties with Viktor Johansson where he appeared 25 times in the starting 11, with Vickers taking part in 20 League One games from October 2021 to March 2022, this was a successful season for Rotherham as they gained promotion to the Championship. During the 2022–23 season Vickers struggled for gametime as Johansson became the regular starter, he was limited the three Championship appearances in April 2023. At the end of the season, Vickers was offered a new deal on "improved terms" by Rotherham which he rejected.

### Derby County

On 20 June 2023, Vickers joined Derby County, on a three-year contract, where he would team up with goalkeeping coach Andy Warrington after they worked together at Lincoln and Rotherham. Paul Warne was Derby manager at the time of his signing also managed Vickers at Rotherham. Vickers made his Derby debut in EFL Cup on 8 August 2023 in a 2–0 loss against Blackpool, his league debut came on 2 September 2023 in a 2–1 loss at Bolton Wanderers as a 50th minute substitute after first choice goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith was sent-off. Vickers made his first league start for the club in a 3-1 victory at Fleetwood Town 6 January 2024. Warne after the game stated that he felt he had two "number 1" goalkeepers in Vickers and Wildsmith. Vickers had a run of six starts, before picking up a thigh injury in early February. Vickers kept two clean sheets in these appearances as Derby gained promotion to the Championship, Vickers made 12 appearances in total for Derby during the season.
After the departure of Wildsmith and Derby being unable to sign a replacement before the start of the 2024–25 season, Vickers went it to season Derby's only senior goalkeeper on the books and he started the season as default first choice goalkeeper. Jacob Widell Zetterström was soon signed to goalkeeping department with Vickers having a man of the match performance against in 1–0 victory over Middlesbrough on 17 August 2024 with new signing Widell Zetterström on the bench, having joined the club a day earlier. After this match; Widell Zetterström would become number 1 with Vickers being demoted back to 2nd choice having played in Derby's first three matches of the season.

## Personal life

On 1 June 2023, Vickers and his partner Laura got married. On 19 September 2023, Laura Vickers died due to cancer. Derby players shared a tribute to Vickers during Derby's match against Carlisle United on 23 September with players doing pre-game warm-ups in training kits with Vickers squad number of 31, as well as holding up his kit whilst celebrating the first goal in a 2–0 win and again post match, in front of visiting Derby supporters.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 17 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Canvey Island (loan) | 2013–14 | Isthmian League Premier Division | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Concord Rangers (loan) | 2014–15 | Conference South | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| Barnet (loan) | 2016–17 | League Two | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Lincoln City | 2017–18 | League Two | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Lincoln City | 2018–19 | League Two | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Lincoln City | 2019–20 | League One | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Lincoln City | Total | Total | 70 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 0 |
| Rotherham United | 2020–21 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Rotherham United | 2021–22 | League One | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| Rotherham United | 2022–23 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Rotherham United | Total | Total | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| Derby County | 2023–24 | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Derby County | 2024–25 | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Derby County | Total | Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 181 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 211 | 0 |
* ↑ Appearance in the F.A. Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the Football League Trophy
* 1 2 Appearance in the Football League Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

## Honours

Lincoln City
* EFL League Two: 2018–19
* EFL Trophy: 2017–18
Rotherham United
* EFL League One second-place promotion: 2021–22
Derby County
* EFL League One second-place promotion: 2023–24