A former steelworker from Rotherham, George Appleyard played for Exeter City between 1924 and 1925. He joined the club from Barnsley and later played for Torquay United.

As a young lad, George combined playing of football with working in the fish trade before gaining employment in the steel mills at Rotherham Forge where, along with his brother, he joined the works team. Making an impression straight away he linked up with Rotherham Town before joining Rawmarsh Athletic for whom he scored 77 goals in two seasons. He joined Barnsley during the 1923/24 season and, after scoring twice in four league outings, was soon on the move to Exeter City in the summer of 1924.

After enjoying a goal-scoring debut for the Grecians in a 1-0 win at Bristol City, George only made eight appearances as he slipped behind a young Harold Blackmore in the pecking order and was released in the summer of 1925. 

Signing for Torquay United, then in the Southern League, George scored 29 goals in all competitions and played in all eight of Torquay’s FA Cup games during 1925-26 as the club reached the first round and took Third Division Reading to a second replay. Resuming his Football League career with Wrexham in 1926/27 he scored twice in five league appearances.

George Appleyard died in Rotherham in 1967.