Claire Skinner (footballer)

Claire Skinner (born 17 February 1997) is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Wales national team[1] and Welsh Premier Women's Football League club Swansea City (WPWL).

Claire Skinner
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-02-17) 17 February 1997
Place of birth Guildford, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Guildford Saints
Chelsea
Fulham
Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Reading
2016 Cwmbran Celtic
2016–2017 Cyncoed
2017 Aston Villa
2017–2018 Oxford United
2018–2020 Cardiff City Ladies
2020 Cardiff City (WPWL)
2020 Swansea City (WPWL)
National team‡
2015– Wales 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 February 2016
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 February 2016

Club career

Skinner was born in Guildford, and started playing locally with Guildford Saints. Despite starting her game playing as a striker, at the club she replaced the goalkeeper who was unavailable, and played as a goalkeeper since then. She then joined Chelsea's summer camp, resulting in her trialling and playing for the Chelsea under-12 side.[2] As well as Chelsea, she played at youth level for Fulham and Reading.[2] Skinner has played for Cwmbran Celtic and Cyncoed in the Welsh Premier Women's Football League (WPWL).[2] In 2017, Skinner spent some time with Aston Villa,[3] and in July 2017 joined Oxford United.[4] In August 2020, Skinner signed with WPWL side Cardiff City.[5]

International career

Skinner's grandfather is from the district Mumbles, and through him she is eligible to represent Wales.[2] In April 2016, she made her international debut against Kazakhstan, coming on in extra-time of the second half, replacing Laura O'Sullivan. A couple of months later, in June 2016, she made her first start, playing the full ninety minutes of a 2–0 loss to Norway during the Euro 2017 qualifiers.[6] She was then called-up for the remaining qualifiers, against Israel and Austria,[7] playing the full match in the 3–0 victory over Israel.[8] In February 2017, she was called up for the 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup.[9][10] In February 2018, she was called up for the 2018 Cyprus Women's Cup.[11] In October 2019, she was called up for the Euro 2021 qualifiers.[12]

References
  1. Jones, Dave (9 April 2015). "Wales Women 1 Slovakia Women 2: Jayne Ludlow's side slip to loss in Euro 2017 friendly". North Wales Daily Post. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  2. "Skinner: My story so far". Cardiff City. February 2019.
  3. "Oxford United Women Draw With Villa". Oxford United. 13 March 2017.
  4. Frith, Wilf (24 July 2017). "Oxford United Women Sign Wales Keeper". She Kicks.
  5. Jones, Jordan (25 August 2020). "Four join Cardiff City ahead of new WPWL season". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
  6. Williams, David (9 June 2016). "Cwmbran Celtic Ladies keeper Claire Skinner goes through the emotions on first Wales start". South Wales Argus.
  7. "Wales Squad Named for Final Women's EURO Qualifiers". Football Association of Wales. 31 August 2016.
  8. Lawson, Sophie (15 September 2016). "Wales 3-0 Israel - Euro 2017 Qualifying: Continued improvement gives hope for upcoming campaigns". Vavel.
  9. "CYPRUS WOMEN'S CUP SQUAD ANNOUNCED". Football Association of Wales. 13 February 2017.
  10. "Wales Women announce their squad for Cyprus Cup competition". BBC Sport. 13 February 2017.
  11. "Wales squad announced for Cyprus Cup". Football Association of Wales. 13 February 2018.
  12. "Women's Euro 2021 Qualifiers: Wales captain Sophie Ingle out injured for Belarus". BBC Sport. 3 October 2019.
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