In among a good number of summer 2018 signings was young stopper Will Appleyard; penning a developmental contract with the club to start with. It was with Crewe that the goalkeeper had been; a former scholar of the Alex and seen as one for the future.
It was quite possible that future would come sooner rather than later; Boro’ in need of a reserve option to Paul Farman. Yet, his first taste of senior football after arriving would be at Royston Town; the stopper moving out on loan for the first part of the 2018-9 season.
Back at Boro’, first team opportunities were never really on the horizon. It wasn’t any more likely once Oliver Byrne came in either. With no real sign that Appleyard was getting closer to being first-team ready, he left the club in summer 2019.