Rob Apter
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Rob Apter
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Robert Julian Apter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2003|4|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| position = Right midfielder
| currentclub = Blackpool
| clubnumber = 25
| youthyears1 = 2012–2019
| youthclubs1 = Tranmere Rovers
| youthyears2 = 2019–2020
| youthclubs2 = Blackpool
| years1 = 2020–
| clubs1 = Blackpool
| caps1 = 47
| goals1 = 8
| years2 = 2021
| clubs2 = → Bamber Bridge (loan)
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 9
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → Chester (loan)
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2022–2023
| clubs4 = → Scunthorpe United (loan)
| caps4 = 19
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = → Tranmere Rovers (loan)
| caps5 = 37
| goals5 = 12
| nationalyears1 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2024
| nationalteam2 = Scotland U21
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 00:33, 6 May 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 10:13, 6 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Robert Julian Apter (born 23 April 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder for {{English football updater|Blackpoo}} club Blackpool. Born in England, he has represented Scotland at under-19 level.
Club career
Born in Liverpool,{{soccerway|robert-apter/681188|accessdate=4 February 2021}} Apter played for Tranmere Rovers academy, leaving aged 15 after seven years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66691016|title=Tranmere bring back Apter on loan|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=4 November 2020 |title='It's been a dream come true': Highly-rated youngster signs professional contract with Blackpool |language=en |work=Blackpool Gazette |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/its-been-dream-come-true-highly-rated-youngster-signs-professional-contract-blackpool-3025191 |access-date=4 February 2021}} He made his senior debut later that month as a substitute in a 3–0 EFL Trophy win Leeds United U21.{{Cite news |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=11 November 2020 |title=Blackpool 3–0 Leeds United's U21s: Seasiders continue impressive recent form to qualify for knockout stages of EFL Trophy |language=en |work=Blackpool Gazette |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/blackpool-3-0-leeds-uniteds-u21s-seasiders-continue-impressive-recent-form-qualify-knockout-stages-efl-trophy-3033154 |access-date=4 February 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=20 November 2020 |title=Blackpool boss won't rush the club's youngsters into the first team |language=en |work=Blackpool Gazette |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/blackpool-boss-wont-rush-clubs-youngsters-first-team-3041816 |access-date=4 February 2021}} 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.{{Cite web |date=26 January 2021 |title=Wigan Athletic 0–5 Blackpool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55713923 |access-date=4 February 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Scrafton |first=Matt |date=27 January 2021 |title='A near-perfect night for the depleted Seasiders': Matt Scrafton's verdict on Blackpool's five-star showing against Wigan Athletic |language=en |work=Blackpool Gazette |url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/near-perfect-night-depleted-seasiders-matt-scraftons-verdict-blackpools-five-star-showing-against-wigan-athletic-3114465 |access-date=4 February 2021}} In February 2021, he was one of 33 players awarded with the League Football Education's The 11 award for under-18 players.{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title=Rob Apter Named In The 11 By League Football Education |url=https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/rob-apter-named-in-the-11-by-league-football-education/ |access-date=4 February 2021 |website=www.blackpoolfc.co.uk |publisher=Blackpool F.C. |language=en-gb}}
On 13 August 2021, Apter joined Bamber Bridge on loan.[https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/post/bange-and-apter-loaned-to-bamber-bridge "Bange And Apter Loaned To Bamber Bridge"] – Blackpool F.C., 13 August 2021 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.[https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/an-in-depth-look-at-how-blackpools-players-out-on-loan-are-getting-on-3407631 "An in-depth look at how Blackpool's players out on loan are getting on"] – Blackpool Gazette, 5 October 2021 He returned to his parent club on 15 December.[https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/rob-apter-returns-to-blackpool-following-impressive-loan-spell-in-non-league-with-bamber-bridge-3496421 "Rob Apter returns to Blackpool following impressive loan spell in non-league with Bamber Bridge"] – Blackpool Gazette, 15 December 2021
Apter signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract with Blackpool on 3 December 2021, with an option of a further year.[https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/post/apter-signs-new-blackpool-contract "Apter Signs New Blackpool Contract"] – Blackpool F.C., 3 December 2021 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.[https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackpool-livingston-apter-championship-critchley-22479325 "Blackpool's Rob Apter joins Livingston on trial with a view to a loan in the January window"] – Lancs Live, 16 December 2021
On 12 January 2024, he signed a new two-year contract with the club.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Blackpool |date=12 January 2024 |title=Rob Apter Signs New Contract |url=https://blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/12/rob-apter-signs-new-contract/ |access-date=12 January 2024 |website=Blackpool FC |language=en}}
On 3 January 2022, Apter joined Chester on an initial 28-day loan.[https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/post/apter-loaned-to-chester "Apter Loaned To Chester"] – Blackpool F.C., 3 January 2022 On 1 February, it was extended until the end of the season.[https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/post/chester-extend-apter-loan "Chester Extend Apter Loan"] – Blackpool F.C., 1 February 2022
On 28 August 2022, Apter joined National League club Scunthorpe United on a short-term loan until January 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2022/august/rob-apter-joins-on-loan-from-blackpool/|title=Rob Apter joins on loan from Blackpool|website=www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk|date=28 August 2022|accessdate=31 August 2022}} He made his debut the following day in a 2–0 home defeat to FC Halifax Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62628352|title=Scunthorpe United 0–2 FC Halifax Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 August 2022|accessdate=31 August 2022}}
On 1 September 2023, Apter joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January 2024.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Blackpool |date=1 September 2023 |title=Apter Joins Tranmere Rovers On Loan |url=https://blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2023/september/01/apter-joins-tranmere-rovers-on-loan/ |access-date=2 September 2023 |website=Blackpool FC |language=en}} He was nominated for League 2 Player of the Month for November.{{cite web|url=https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2023/december/nigel-adkins-and-rob-apter-nominated-for-manager-and-player-of-the-month/|title=Nigel Adkins and Rob Apter nominated for Manager and Player of the Month|website=www.tranmererovers.co.uk|date=5 December 2023|accessdate=12 January 2024}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2024/january/rob-apter-rejoins-rovers-on-loan-till-the-end-of-the-season/|title=Rob Apter rejoins Rovers on loan till the end of the season.|website=www.tranmererovers.co.uk|date=12 January 2024|accessdate=12 January 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2024/january/12/rob-apter-signs-new-contract/|title=Rob Apter Signs New Contract|website=www.blackpoolfc.co.uk|date=12 January 2024|accessdate=12 January 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67956499|title=Tranmere re-sign Apter on loan until end of season|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} At the end of the season, we was named EFL League Two Young Player of the Season.{{Cite web |last=EFL |date=2024-04-14 |title=Crysencio Summerville named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/april/14/crysencio-summerville-named-the-sky-bet-championship-player-of-the-season/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=EFL |language=en}}
Apter scored his first goal for Blackpool on 28 September 2024, in a 3–0 victory over Burton Albion at Bloomfield Road.{{Cite web |title=Blackpool v Burton Albion: League One |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/ckgnx2ryv70t |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
On 18 April 2025, Apter scored the first hat-trick of his career in Blackpool's 3–1 League One victory at Stevenage.{{Cite web |title=Stevenage v Blackpool: League One stats & head-to-head |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/c78jn2nn5xet |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
International career
In September 2021, Apter was called up to the Scotland under-19s.[https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/blackpools-ewan-bange-seals-fresh-loan-move-after-prolific-spell-with-bamber-bridge-3451051 "Blackpool's Ewan Bange seals fresh loan move after prolific spell with Bamber Bridge"] – Blackpool Gazette, 9 November 2021
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.[https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=610730&lid=9 Robert Apter] – Scottish FA
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- EFL League Two Young Player of the Season: 2023–24{{cite news |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2024/april/14/crysencio-summerville-named-the-sky-bet-championship-player-of-the-season/ |title=Crysencio Summerville named the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Season |website=EFL |date=14 April 2024 |access-date=14 April 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|136092}}
{{Blackpool F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Apter, Robert}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Liverpool
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Blackpool F.C. players
Category:Bamber Bridge F.C. players
Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players
Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Northern Premier League players
Category:National League (English football) players