Managerial Career
Appleton helped guide the club to victory in the FA Trophy, including scoring the winning goal in the semi-final to see the club reach the final, also being named the club's player of the season in what would turn out to be his final as a player. He was named the club's permanent manager two years later and led them to a further two FA Trophy triumphs. Making his three FA Trophy successes a record at the time.
His success in charge of Scarborough saw Hull City appoint him in 1982 and he led the club to promotion from the Fourth Division in his first season in charge. He then almost guided the club to back-to-back promotions, finishing third in the Third Division in his second season in charge, missing out on promotion by a single point.
Swansea City managed to entice him away from Hull, though Appleton won just 4 of his 18 games in charge of the Swans and was sacked after just six months in charge. Appleton then had a two year spell in charge of Exeter City before a brief and unsuccessful return to Hull City before officially retiring from the game. He had failed to win the respect of his players at Hull, and the 'big characters' at the club joked around at his expense, whilst on the pitch the club slid to bottom of the Second Division.
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