We were saddened to learn of the passing of our former player George Skinner who died on September 30, aged 85.
We were saddened to learn of the passing of our former player George Skinner who died on September 30, aged 85.
An inside right, he was on our books either side of the last war, netting three goals in 16 senior games. He became one of the first graduates of the FA coaching scheme at Lilleshall in 1947 which led to a succession of coaching appointments around the world.
Born at Belvedere on June 26, 1917, George Edward Henry Skinner was spotted playing as an amateur for the local Callenders Cable Works team in the Spartan League. He signed for us on May 18, 1937, and transferred to our Northfleet United nursery club three months later, picking up Kent Senior and Kent League Cup winners medals during his time at Stonebridge Road. George joined our professional staff in September 1938, netting twice in 12 outings for the Combination side during season 1938-39. Introduced to our senior team for a wartime match against West Ham United on September 7,1940, he scored once in four Outings that season before joining the Royal Artillery. He represented Northern and Southern Command whilst in the services and also played as a guest for Fulham, Charlton Athletic, Hartlepools United, Middlesbrough, Swindon Town, York City and Bristol Rovers. On returning to Tottenham in 1945 he made 11 appearances, scoring twice, during the transitional season and played in the opening Second Division game of 1946-47 against Birmingham City on August 31. That proved to be his only peacetime Football League appearance. George added a further four goals in 14 Reserve Team outings that season before transferring to Southern League Gillingham in July, 1947, moving on to Brighton & Hove Albion in February, 1948.
Having gained his Full FA coaching badge in 1947 George spent four months in Finland during 1948 helping their club and national teams before joining Hastings United as player/coach for a four year spell. He also served as chief coach to the Kent FA before returning for another brief stint in Finland, coaching their Olympic team, then managed Eastbourne Town and held the post of chief coach for the Sussex FA.
1962 saw George begin a spell of far flung appointments with a stint as director of coaching in Nigeria. National coaching posts followed with Libya, from 1965, Jordan in 1968 and Saudi Arabia the following year. A spell in Iran from 1972, with Frank O'Farrell, as director of coaching and then national teams coach followed, which saw the Arabian Games won under his charge. His final appointment was in 1976 with the Westman Island based club ISV (lbrottabandalag Vestmannaeyja) who became the first lcelandic club to progress past the first round of the UEFA Cup when knocking Out Glentoran on the away goals rule in 1978. George retired from the game later that year.
In recent years George lived at Pevensey Bay, near Eastbourne. He passed away at an Eastbourne nursing home and is survived by Eve, his wife of 63 years, daughter Terry, son Brian, four grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.