Biography
Midfield dynamo Richie Appleby was one of Jan Molby’s first summer signings after taking the managerial role at Hull City, bringing him from former club Kidderminster. Molby gave Appleby his debut in a League Cup tie against Leicester, but the six league appearances Richie made in February and March 2003 were under Peter Taylor’s management. Appleby clearly had some talent but struggled with injuries throughout his year and a half year stay at the Tigers, and his contract was terminated early by Adam Pearson in December 2003.
Hailing from Middlesbrough, Appleby came through the ranks at Newcastle United and debuted at 17 years old in the Anglo Italian Cup. That was the sum of his contribution to the Magpies’ cause and he moved to Ipswich in 1995. A transfer to Swansea a year later was the making of Appleby and in five years he became a highly influential, if often feisty and red-cardy, first team regular. His time at Swansea began with his first spell under the management of Jan Molby, a pattern that continued when Appleby spent seven months at Kidderminster in 2001 and 2002. This came after Swansea showed Appleby the door for repeated on-pitch misdemeanours.
Appleby returned briefly to Kidderminster in 2004, again under Molby’s management, before his career petered out in the Conference with Forest Green Rovers and the Welsh League with Llanelli.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 18 September 1975, Middlesbrough
Hull City First Game: 10 September 2002, Leicester City H (League Cup First Round), 26 years, 357 days old
Hull City Final Game: 18 March 2003, Torquay United H (League Division Three), 27 years, 181 days old
Clubs
Newcastle United (1992-1995), Darlington (1994, loan), Ipswich Town (1995-1996), Swansea City (1996-2001), Kidderminster Harriers (2001, loan), Kidderminster Harriers (2001-2002), Hull City (2002-2003), Kidderminster Harriers (2004), Forest Green Rovers (2004-2005), Llanelli (2006)
Hull City Record
Career: 7 apps, 0 goals
Richie Appleby| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002/03 | 6 (0) | 0 | - | - | 1 (0) | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| 2003/04 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |