Rhodes Posted April 21, 2020 Share Posted April 21, 2020 Very sad news to report that Mike Appleby, the General Secretary of the Spartan South Midlands League, passed away this afternoon after contracting the Coronavirus almost a month ago, he will be very much missed and our thoughts are with his family at this time: https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/mike-appleby.1368/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savagebee Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 10 hours ago, Rhodes said: Very sad news to report that Mike Appleby, the General Secretary of the Spartan South Midlands League, passed away this afternoon after contracting the Coronavirus almost a month ago, he will be very much missed and our thoughts are with his family at this time: https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forums/index.php?threads/mike-appleby.1368/ Sad newes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 A touching messege from the Spartan South Midlands Football League: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 A messege of condolence from Bovingdon Football Club: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 The Non League Paper on-line have issued an article of condolence: https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/fa-competitions-more-news/30147/coronavirus-takes-mike-appleby-the-man-who-restructured-grassroots/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 The Football Association have issued a messege of condolence: Tributes paid to former long-serving FA staff member Mike Appleby after his passing The unfortunate news about the passing of a popular and long-serving former FA staff member, Mike Appleby, was met with sadness this week. “Mike worked for the FA for over 30 years, holding many different roles during that time and was also a UEFA Match Delegate", said our head of National League System, Laurence Jones. "He will be remembered for the outstanding work he undertook with the National League System and its leagues and clubs, along with establishing the England C team and the UEFA Regions Cup, which has provided the opportunity for players from non-League and grassroots football to be recognised internationally and for so many to progress to the professional game. Since his retirement from the FA, he has been secretary of the Spartan South Midlands League. Mike will be sorely missed by his family, friends and the wider football family. He was a gentle and kind man, who devoted his life to football and to helping others. The FA extends its deepest condolences to Mike’s family and friends at this very sad time”. http://www.thefa.com/news/2020/apr/22/mike-appleby-220420 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 A messege from New Bradwell St Peter Football Club: New Bradwell St Peter FC We send our deepest condolences to Mike’s family, friends and all of his colleagues past and present at the SSMFL! Mike was one of many people that worked tirelessly to help us all enjoy grass roots football, he will be dearly missed by all of us here in the Spartan South Midlands League Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 An informative article of condolence on a North East based football Blog called 'Grass Routes': https://mikeamosblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/april-21-2020-virus-claims-top-fa-man/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big J R Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 A lovely tribute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 1, 2020 Author Share Posted May 1, 2020 The Non League Football Show last week (24 April) featured Mike Appleby following his sad death and a tribute was paid to him by former colleague and friend Mick Payne, who was formerly head of the National League System at The Football Association: https://audioboom.com/posts/7564702-24th-april-2020-the-lockdown-special?playlist_direction=reversed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 2, 2020 Author Share Posted May 2, 2020 From Spartan South Midlands Football League Chairman Pat Burns: https://www.sportsshots.org.uk/2020/04/30/obituary-mike-appleby/?doing_wp_cron=1588433337.8760271072387695312500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 2, 2020 Author Share Posted May 2, 2020 From Letchworth Garden City Eagles Football Club: April 27, 2020 We are sorry to report the death from Covid 19 of Mike Appleby, General Secretary of the Spartan South Midland League, Mike worked for the Football Association for many years managing non league football, and retired in 2015. He then maintained his links with local football when he joined the Spartan South Midland League. Mike visited Pixmore several times over the past year to offer advice on the improvement of our facilities to SSML standard, and shortly before he fell ill in March he issued his report approving our application for promotion to the SSML next season, subject to final league position, which is now deferred because of the pandemic. He was very knowledgeable, softly spoken and offered wise advice. He will be sadly missed both by the SSML but also the wider local football community. https://www.letchwortheagles.org.uk/2020/04/mike-appleby/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 A heartfelt tribute to Mike Appleby from his local newspaper, the Northumberland Gazette: https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/health/coronavirus/alnwick-fa-man-who-was-awarded-honorary-freeman-town-dies-aged-65-coronavirus-2549852 Mr Appleby died in hospital in Milton Keynes on April 21 after contracting the illness. His family say he had been fit and well before contracting coronavirus and said that his death has come as a shock. His niece, Laura Bell, said: “I think more than anything it’s been a shock. He seemed to be getting better, then he wasn’t. I don’t thinks anyone knows how dangerous it is and another 20,000 families are going through this. He was really healthy and was still very active before he died. Mr Appleby spent two weeks in intensive care where, at times he seemed to be improving, but he eventually lost the fight". Mr Appleby was highly regarded at the FA, which he retired from in 2015. He then joined the Spartan South Midlands League as a director in 2016. He was key to the successful restructuring of the National League System in 2004/05, and the creation of the National League North and South divisions. He went on to oversee restructuring at Step 5 of the football pyramid and below. Step 5 includes the Northern League, which includes Ashington FC and Bedlington Terriers. Although he left Alnwick in 1978, he was a frequent visitor to his home town and was up last Christmas for a big family get-together. He was a huge fan of Alnwick Town, as well as following Newcastle United. Mr Appleby was also an honorary Freeman of Alnwick. He leaves behind his son Jamie and partner Trudy. His niece, who lives in Northumberland, said of her Uncle: “He was football mad and he just had the driest sense of humour you’ve even heard. But he was really professional in his job. There were a lot of hard decisions he had to make, but he was always really respected. He tried his best for them all. He was just up at Christmas and met my new twins. He was close to my mam, Angela, his older sister. He was really well-known up here even after he moved away". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savagebee Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 17 hours ago, Rhodes said: He seemed to be getting better, then he wasn’t. That seems to be case for a lot of the people that have died. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Mike Appleby's funeral took place on Tuesday (19 May) at 10.00am with close family members only in attendance due to the times we are currently experiencing, however the family will be arranging a Memorial Service for Mike in the future once things get back to some sort of normality. RIP Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted May 26, 2020 Author Share Posted May 26, 2020 The article in the Non League Paper from Sunday 26 April: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Another heartfelt tribute to Mike Appleby with some photographs, RIP Mike: https://mikeappleby.muchloved.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Just to make sure Mike Appleby's name isn't forgotten, not that it ever will be, there was a thread on another Forum when he retired from the FA on 18 November 2015 with some nice and complimentary comments: https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?post=694724%3Bsb=post_latest_reply%3Bso=ASC%3Bforum_view=forum_view_collapsed%3Bguest=76754629 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodes Posted April 2, 2021 Author Share Posted April 2, 2021 On 21/08/2020 at 12:02, Rhodes said: Just to make sure Mike Appleby's name isn't forgotten, not that it ever will be I can't believe that Mike Appleby has sadly been gone for almost a year already, here he is presenting then Potton United supremo Steve Kuhne with the League's Respect Award for February 2019. RIP Mike: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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