Rob Apter

Rob Apter
Personal information
Full name Robert Julian Apter[1]
Date of birth (2003-04-23) 23 April 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Position(s) Right midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Blackpool
Number 25
Youth career
2012–2019 Tranmere Rovers
2019–2020 Blackpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Blackpool 12 (1)
2021 → Bamber Bridge (loan) 18 (9)
2022 → Chester (loan) 17 (2)
2022–2023 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 19 (4)
2023–2024 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 18 (4)
2024 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 10 (4)
International career‡
2021– Scotland U19 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:43, 5 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:30, 8 May 2022 (UTC)

Robert Julian Apter (born 23 April 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder for EFL League One club Blackpool. Born in England, he has represented Scotland at under-19 level.

Club career

Born in Liverpool,[2] Apter played for Tranmere Rovers academy, leaving aged 15 after seven years.[3] Apter secured a two-year scholarship at Blackpool in May 2019 and signed a two-year professional contract with the option of an additional year in November 2020.[4] He made his senior debut later that month as a substitute in a 3–0 EFL Trophy win Leeds United U21.[5][6] Apter made his league debut on 26 January 2021 as a late substitute in a 5–0 win away to Wigan Athletic and provided the assist for their final goal.[7][8] In February 2021, he was one of 33 players awarded with the League Football Education's The 11 award for under-18 players.[9]

On 13 August 2021, Apter joined Bamber Bridge on loan.[10] As of 2 December, he had scored ten goals in all competitions, including one goal from the halfway line in November in a 4–1 win away at Witton Albion.[11] He returned to his parent club on 15 December.[12]

Apter signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Blackpool on 3 December 2021, with an option of a further year.[13] In December 2021, Apter joined Scottish side Livingston on a week long trial with a view to signing on loan. However no transfer materialised following the trial.[14]

On 12 January 2024, he signed a new two-year contract with the club.[15]

On 3 January 2022, Apter joined Chester on an initial 28-day loan.[16] On 1 February, it was extended until the end of the season.[17]

On 28 August 2022, Apter joined National League club Scunthorpe United on a short-term loan until January 2023.[18] He made his debut the following day in a 2–0 home defeat to FC Halifax Town.[19]

On 1 September 2023, Apter joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January 2024.[20][3] He was nominated for League 2 Player of the Month for November.[21]

On 12 January 2024, Apter signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Blackpool, returning to Tranmere for a second loan until the end of the season.[22][23][24]

Apter scored his first goal for Blackpool on 28 September 2024, in a 3–0 victory over Burton Albion at Bloomfield Road.[25]

International career

In September 2021, Apter was called up to the Scotland under-19s.[26]

He made his debut for the under-19s on 10 November 2021 against Armenia. He scored his first goal for them three days later in a 3–0 victory over Gibraltar.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 October 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackpool 2020–21[28] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 2 0
2021–22[29] Championship 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
2022–23[30] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Bamber Bridge (loan) 2021–22[31] NPL Premier Division 18 9 2 1 — 1[b] 0 21 10
Chester (loan) 2021–22[1] National League North 17 2 — — — 17 2
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2022–23[1] National League 19 4 — — — 19 4
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2023–24[32] League Two 19 4
Career total 56 15 2 1 0 0 2 0 60 16
  1. ^ Appearance in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c "R. Apter: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  2. ^ Rob Apter at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Tranmere bring back Apter on loan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ Scrafton, Matt (4 November 2020). "'It's been a dream come true': Highly-rated youngster signs professional contract with Blackpool". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. ^ Scrafton, Matt (11 November 2020). "Blackpool 3–0 Leeds United's U21s: Seasiders continue impressive recent form to qualify for knockout stages of EFL Trophy". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  6. ^ Scrafton, Matt (20 November 2020). "Blackpool boss won't rush the club's youngsters into the first team". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Wigan Athletic 0–5 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  8. ^ Scrafton, Matt (27 January 2021). "'A near-perfect night for the depleted Seasiders': Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's five-star showing against Wigan Athletic". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Rob Apter Named In The 11 By League Football Education". www.blackpoolfc.co.uk. Blackpool F.C. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Bange And Apter Loaned To Bamber Bridge" – Blackpool F.C., 13 August 2021
  11. ^ "An in-depth look at how Blackpool's players out on loan are getting on" – Blackpool Gazette, 5 October 2021
  12. ^ "Rob Apter returns to Blackpool following impressive loan spell in non-league with Bamber Bridge" – Blackpool Gazette, 15 December 2021
  13. ^ "Apter Signs New Blackpool Contract" – Blackpool F.C., 3 December 2021
  14. ^ "Blackpool's Rob Apter joins Livingston on trial with a view to a loan in the January window" – Lancs Live, 16 December 2021
  15. ^ FC, Blackpool (12 January 2024). "Rob Apter Signs New Contract". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Apter Loaned To Chester" – Blackpool F.C., 3 January 2022
  17. ^ "Chester Extend Apter Loan" – Blackpool F.C., 1 February 2022
  18. ^ "Rob Apter joins on loan from Blackpool". www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Scunthorpe United 0–2 FC Halifax Town". BBC Sport. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  20. ^ FC, Blackpool (1 September 2023). "Apter Joins Tranmere Rovers On Loan". Blackpool FC. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Nigel Adkins and Rob Apter nominated for Manager and Player of the Month". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Rob Apter rejoins Rovers on loan till the end of the season". www.tranmererovers.co.uk. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Rob Apter Signs New Contract". www.blackpoolfc.co.uk. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Tranmere re-sign Apter on loan until end of season" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Blackpool v Burton Albion: League One". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Blackpool's Ewan Bange seals fresh loan move after prolific spell with Bamber Bridge" – Blackpool Gazette, 9 November 2021
  27. ^ Robert Apter – Scottish FA
  28. ^ "Games played by Rob Apter in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Games played by Rob Apter in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Games played by Rob Apter in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  31. ^ "Bamber Bridge – Appearances – Robert Apter". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Games played by Rob Apter in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Crysencio Summerville named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season". EFL. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.