Manager Bob Dennison With Bob Appleby
Hereford Historian Ron Parrott has written an appreciation of former Hereford United player Bob Appleby.
Bob was a tidy keeper, if a little on the short side and I have fond memories of him. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this sad time. Here is my pen-pic for Bob:-
Appearances: 50 (50+0 sub.) Goals: 0
Seasons played: 1966/67 & 1967/68
Born Warkworth, Northumberland 15th January 1940, died Newcastle 25th April 2024, aged 84
Bob was a goalkeeper by trade and started his career with Amble Welfare, just along the coast from his home town. His performances soon attracted the attention of First Division giants Middlesbrough and they signed him in 1957 at the age of 17. Bob was to remain at Ayrsome Park for nine seasons and registered a total of 110 first-team appearances. Legend has it that when at Boro, Bob used to keep a shotgun in his van and when training on the running track around Ayrsome Park, pigeons used to land in the centre-circle and Bob would stop to take pot-shots at them. Renowned as a bit of a dressing-room joker, Bob was infamous among his teammates for putting spin on the ball as he threw it out, making it difficult to control.. It was also said that he'd regularly make bird noises during a game.
He followed ex-Borough manager Bob Dennison down to Edgar Street in the summer of 1966 and in two seasons with Hereford United, Bob played in exactly 50 games. He wasn’t the biggest of keepers but was extremely agile and a very good shot stopper, all attributes that made him popular with fans. After retiring from the game, Bob became a water bailiff in Cumberland and settled in Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales. He finally returned to Northumberland but after an operation in Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, Bob spent some time in intensive care before finally passing away after a brave fight.