Bob McSkimming explained

Bob McSkimming
Fullname:Robert McSkimming
Birth Date:1864[1]
Birth Place:Kilmarnock, Scotland
Death Date:4 July [2]
Death Place:Kilmarnock, Scotland
Position:Forward
Years2:1887–1888
Clubs2:Hurlford
Years3:1888–1889
Clubs3:Stoke
Caps3:22
Goals3:6
Years4:1889–1891
Clubs4:Burslem Port Vale
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Clubs5:Stone Town

Robert McSkimming (1864 – 4 July 1924) was a Scottish footballer who played in the English Football League for Stoke.

Career

McSkimming played for Kilmarnock and Hurlford before moving down to England with Stoke in time for the first season of the Football League, becoming the first Scottish footballer to sign for Stoke.[3] He made his League debut on 8 September 1888, as a forward for Stoke in a 2–0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion at the Victoria Ground. He was top scorer in the 1888–89 season with six as Stoke endured a poor start to league football finishing bottom of the table. McSkimming was one of two Stoke players (the other was Alf Underwood) to play in all 22 League games in the 1888–89 season. As a forward he played in a front-line that scored three League goals or more on three separate occasions. He found the net in three of the club's four league wins; his goals at the Victoria Ground came against Notts County (his debut League goal scored on 22 September 1888, Stoke won 3–0), Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, and away from home in the return fixtures with Notts County and Blackburn (2).

He joined nearby Burslem Port Vale in the summer of 1889.[4] His appearances were mostly limited to friendlies, his business commitments helping to restrict his playing opportunities.[4] He was released, most likely in 1891 and later played for Stone Town.[4]

Style of play

One source describes McSkimming as "a fine sprinter, he competed at various Scottish athletic meetings, collecting a handful of medals.[5]

Career statistics

Source:

Notes and References

  1. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/7814/images/STSRG13_2630_2633-0138?pId=34534913 1901 England Census
  2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/127294439/robert-mcskimming Robert McSkimming
  3. Book: Matthews, Tony. The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. 1994. Lion Press. 0-9524151-0-0.
  4. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 196. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  5. Book: Matthews, Tony. The Who's Who of Stoke City. 2005. Breedon Books. 1-85983-473-6.