Wickham was educated at the local
St Peter's National School, and the
Congregation of Christian Brothers'
O'Connell Schools. He started his working life as an apprentice with the
Freeman's Journal, before taking a job in the railway carriage and wagon works at the
Broadstone, until taking over from Jack Ryder in the FAI. He received much attention for his decision not to cancel the soccer match between the Irish team and Yugoslavia in October 1955, under pressure from the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin,
John Charles McQuaid, on the premise that Ireland had to play its role in resisting Communism. Both
Radio Éireann and the Army Band made themselves unavailable, but this did not deter a crowd of 21,400 supporters arriving at
Dalymount Park and passing the picket of Legion of Mary members who carried anti-Communist placards. Ireland eventually lost the match 4–1, and Wickham was denounced from the pulpit in his parish church in Larkhill (for insisting the match be played, not for the result). He presided over the formation of the Wexford and District League in April 1960 as well as the expansion of the
Limerick Desmond League in October 1966. In 1964, he won the Irish Soccer Writers' Association award for their Personality of the Year . It had been the first time in four years the award had been given to a legislator. It had been given on the back of a highly successful year for the Irish team, which reached the last 8 of a European Nations' Cup Tournament as well as a successful continental tour. He suffered a heart attack on 30 October 1968 at half time (around 6pm local time) of an international match between Ireland and Poland in
Chorzów. ==Notes==