Skinner most likely joined
Burslem Port Vale in the summer of 1886. He enjoyed regular football from October 1888 to February 1889, but was used mostly as a
reserve player after this period. In total, he played 30 games for his local team: 16 league games (12 in the Football Combination and one each in the
English Football League and
Midland Football League), 13
friendlies, and 3 cup matches. He was allowed to leave the
Athletic Ground at the end of the
1892–93 season, the first ever season of the
Football League Second Division. ==Career statistics==