Eric Skeels
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Thomas Skeels | ||
| Date of birth | 27 October 1939 | ||
| Place of birth | Eccles, Lancashire, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1957–1958 | |||
| 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. |
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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 592 matches in all competitions.
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 592 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.
Skeels was born in Eccles, Lancashire and played with in the youth side of local club . Playing as an inside-forward for County's Central League side he attracted the attentions of Birmingham City. He was offered a contract by Birmingham manager Arthur Turner, but Turner then left and Skeels was unable to sign the contract. 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.
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