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 (age 85)[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 could play in all outfield positions, 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 attention of Birmingham City.^[3] He was offered a contract by Birmingham manager Arthur Turner. However, Turner then left, and Skeels could not sign the contract.^[3] The scout who had recommended 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

Skeels 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

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^[5][6][7]

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[a]	0	46	0
	1971–72	First Division	19	0	5	0	2	0	1[b]	0	27	0
	1972–73	First Division	31	0	0	0	2	0	1[c]	0	34	0
	1973–74	First Division	15	0	1	0	1	0	1[d]	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

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

• Football League Second Division: 1962–63^[8]
• League Cup: 1972; runner-up: 1964^[8]
• Watney Cup: 1973

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 Transfer 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.