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]

Eric Skeels
Personal information
Full name Eric Thomas Skeels[1]
Date of birth (1939-10-27) 27 October 1939[1]
Place of birth Eccles, Lancashire, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
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)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Skeels joined Stoke City in 1959 and soon established himself as 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.

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

Source:[5][6][7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1959–60 Second Division 2000——20
1960–61 Second Division 3706010—440
1961–62 Second Division 4213020—471
1962–63 Second Division 3841020—414
1963–64 First Division 39050100—540
1964–65 First Division 4203050—500
1965–66 First Division 4101050—470
1966–67 First Division 4001010—420
1967–68 First Division 3402040—400
1968–69 First Division 3614010—411
1969–70 First Division 3501010—370
1970–71 First Division 290100106[lower-alpha 1]0460
1971–72 First Division 19050201[lower-alpha 2]0270
1972–73 First Division 31000201[lower-alpha 3]0340
1973–74 First Division 15010101[lower-alpha 4]0180
1974–75 First Division 231000000231
1975–76 First Division 400000—40
Total 5077430380905977
Cleveland Stokers (loan) 1967 United Soccer Association 121———121
Seattle Sounders 1976 North American Soccer League 162———162
Port Vale 1976–77 Third Division 510000—51
Career total 540114303809063011
  1. Four appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup and two in Texaco Cup
  2. Appearance in Anglo-Italian Cup
  3. Appearance in UEFA Cup
  4. Appearance in Watney Cup

Honours

Stoke City

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Smith, Denis (2008), Just One of Seven, Know The Score Books, p. 81, ISBN 978-1-84818-504-3
  3. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287-55-4.
  4. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 268. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  5. Eric Skeels at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. Eric Skeels at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
  7. North American profile
  8. Matthews, Tony (18 December 2008). The Legends of Stoke City. Derby, United Kingdom: Breedon Books. pp. 166–7. ISBN 978-1-85983-653-8.
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