Bob Appleby (footballer)

Robert Appleby (15 January 1940 – 25 April 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Bob Appleby

Personal information
Full name	Robert Appleby[1]
Date of birth	(1940-01-15)15 January 1940
Place of birth	Warkworth, England
Date of death	25 April 2024(2024-04-25) (aged 84)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Amble Welfare
1957–1960	Middlesbrough
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1960–1967	Middlesbrough	99	(0)
	Hereford United
	Carlisle United
Total		99+	(0+)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Warkworth,^[2] Appleby moved from Amble Welfare to Middlesbrough aged 17, initially playing with their Reserves before making his first-team debut in April 1960.^[3] He was a first-team regular for two seasons, and made nearly 100 appearances before moving to Hereford United in 1967.^[3] He also played for Carlisle United.^[4]

Appleby was known for making bird noises during games,^[3] and for having a shotgun in his van, which he once used to shoot pigeons over the training pitch.^[5]