Goal Getter

Rochester businessman gets a kick by buying a soccer team across the pond

By Susan Howes

By Marvin Shaouni

Andy Appleby carries himself with a quiet sophistication not typically expected from the owner of a pro-sports team. His gentle demeanor contrasts with the more typical brash jock persona of billionaire owners of sports powerhouses.
With a master’s degree in sports management and marketing, the Rochester businessman may be more academic than athletic in style, which may explain why understated Brits enthusiastically embraced him as the new owner of one of their beloved soccer teams.
Earlier this year, he realized a lifelong dream when he paid $100 million for a British Premier League soccer team, the Derby County Rams Football Club, which is based in the East Midlands, England, on the banks of the River Derwent.
“It’s not only a 124-year-old team, it’s also been the only game in town for 124 years,” Appleby says.

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