Bob McSkimming

Robert McSkimming (born June 1870; date of death unknown) was a Scottish footballer who played in the English Football League for Stoke.

For the Sheffield Wednesday player, see Robert McSkimming (footballer, born 1888).
Bob McSkimming
Personal information
Full name Robert McSkimming[1]
Date of birth June 1870[2]
Place of birth Kilmarnock, Scotland[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Kilmarnock
1887–1888 Hurlford
1888–1889 Stoke 22 (6)
1889–1891 Burslem Port Vale 0 (0)
Stone Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing 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.[4] When he made his debut he was 18 years and approximately 85days old; that made him, on that first day of League football, Stoke's youngest player.[4] He was top scorer in the 1888–89 season with six as Stoke endured an awful start to league football finishing bottom of the table.[2] 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.[4] 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).[4]

He joined nearby Burslem Port Vale in the summer of 1889.[1] His appearances were mostly limited to friendlies, his business commitments helping to restrict his playing opportunities.[1] He was released, most likely in 1891 and later played for Stone Town.[1]

Style of play

One source describes McSkimming as "a fine sprinter, he competed at various Scottish athletic meetings, collecting a handful of medals.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke 1888–89 The Football League 22600226
Career total 22600226

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 196. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of Stoke City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-473-6.
  3. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  4. Bob McSkimming at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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