Eric Skeels
Eric Thomas Skeels (born 27 October 1939) is an English former footballer. He played 512 games in the Football League, 507 for Stoke City. He is Stoke's record appearance holder having played in 597 matches in all competitions.[1][3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Thomas Skeels[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 October 1939[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Eccles, Lancashire, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Playing position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1957–1958 | Stockport County | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1959–1976 | Stoke City | 507 | (7) |
| 1967 | → Cleveland Stokers (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 1976 | Seattle Sounders | 16 | (2) |
| 1976–1977 | Port Vale | 5 | (1) |
| Leek Town | |||
| Total | 540 | (11) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Skeels joined Stoke City in 1959 and soon established himself and an indispensable member of Tony Waddington's starting eleven. He was able to play in all outfield positions and became known for his consistency and racked up a club record 597 appearances. During his 17-year spell at the Victoria Ground he helped Stoke to win the Second Division in 1962–63, finish as runner-up of the League Cup in 1964, before winning the competition in 1972 he also helped them to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup in 1970–71 and 1971–72. He left for American side Seattle Sounders in 1976 before spending a short spell back in Stoke-on-Trent with Port Vale. He then became a pub landlord and played occasionally for Leek Town.
Playing career
Stoke City
Skeels was born in Eccles, Lancashire and played with in the youth side of local club Stockport County. Playing as an inside-forward for County's Central League side he attracted the attentions of Birmingham City.[3] He was offered a contract by Birmingham manager Arthur Turner, but Turner then left and Skeels was unable to sign the contract.[3] The scout who had recommend him to Turner, Reg Savage, prompted Skeels to attend trials at Stoke City. He did well enough and signed a professional contract in November 1958. When Tony Waddington took over in August 1960 he converted Skeels into a fine-tackling half-back who thrived on the 'ugly side' of the game.[3]
From September 1960 he missed just eleven matches in seven seasons, establishing a reputation for his consistency and became known as 'Mr Dependable'.[3] During his career at the Victoria Ground he played in every outfield position, filling in as and when required.[3] In his natural position he was a defensive midfielder, although he made most of his appearances in the back four.[3] Never a flashy player, he won a Second Division winner's medal in 1962–63 and a League Cup runners-up medal in 1964.[3] Against Leicester City in August 1971, Skeels broke his leg in a tackle with Steve Whitworth. He battled his way back to fitness in time to replace the injured Denis Smith for the League Cup semi-final against West Ham United, helping Stoke to reach the 1972 League Cup Final, where they beat Chelsea 2–1.[3] Skeels established a club record for league appearances towards the end of the 1974–75 season, and with war-time fixtures considered unofficial he also lays claim to record appearance holder in all competitions with 597.[3] He had already been awarded a joint-testimonial match with Tony Allen against Derby County in February 1969 when he was given a free transfer by Stoke in June 1976.
Later career
He joined up with former teammate Geoff Hurst in the North American Soccer League with the Seattle Sounders, before signing for Roy Sproson's Port Vale in September 1976.[4] He played five Third Division matches for the "Valiants" in the 1976–77 season, scoring once against Walsall.[4] He then became the owner of the Hare and Hound pub in Glossop whilst making the occasional appearance for Leek Town.[3] He returned to the Potteries to keep the Noah's Ark in Newcastle-under-Lyme and has also worked at Staffordshire University as a Porter.[3]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City | 1959–60 | Second Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1960–61 | Second Division | 37 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 44 | 0 | ||
| 1961–62 | Second Division | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 47 | 1 | ||
| 1962–63 | Second Division | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 4 | ||
| 1963–64 | First Division | 39 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | 54 | 0 | ||
| 1964–65 | First Division | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 50 | 0 | ||
| 1965–66 | First Division | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 47 | 0 | ||
| 1966–67 | First Division | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | ||
| 1967–68 | First Division | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
| 1968–69 | First Division | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 41 | 1 | ||
| 1969–70 | First Division | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 37 | 0 | ||
| 1970–71 | First Division | 29 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 46 | 0 | |
| 1971–72 | First Division | 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| 1972–73 | First Division | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 1973–74 | First Division | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 1974–75 | First Division | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 1975–76 | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 507 | 7 | 43 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 597 | 7 | ||
| Cleveland Stokers (loan) | 1967 | United Soccer Association | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| Seattle Sounders | 1976 | North American Soccer League | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | |||
| Port Vale | 1976–77 | Third Division | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | |
| Career total | 540 | 11 | 43 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 630 | 11 | ||
- Four appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup and two in Texaco Cup
- Appearance in Anglo-Italian Cup
- Appearance in UEFA Cup
- Appearance in Watney Cup
Honours
- Stoke City
- Football League Second Division champion: 1962–63[8]
- League Cup winner: 1972
- League Cup runner-up: 1964[8]
- Watney Cup winner: 1973
References
- Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- Smith, Denis (2008), Just One of Seven, Know The Score Books, p. 81, ISBN 978-1-84818-504-3
- Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287-55-4.
- Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 268. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- Eric Skeels at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- Eric Skeels at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
- North American profile
- Matthews, Tony (18 December 2008). The Legends of Stoke City. Derby, United Kingdom: Breedon Books. pp. 166–7. ISBN 978-1-85983-653-8.