downendcity Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 2 hours ago, cidered abroad said: Strong willed, strong runner and strong in tackles against defenders who played it hard. Thanks Alan. In my mind Skirton used to run through defenders! My recollection is of his knocking the ball past the full back and getting to the byeline and hitting a cross on the 6 yard line for Galley to collect - usually along with the keeper! Happy days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downendcity Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 6 hours ago, chinapig said: Yes, he had a powerful shot and could head a ball too. When I think of him what comes to mind is successive home wins over Norwich and Fulham when we won 4-0 and 6-0. I think Alan scored in both. What also trips off the tongue is my favourite City attack of Skirton -Garland -Galley -Kellard -Sharpe. Thanks for the memories Alan. Left and right wing, inside right and inside left and a centre forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redysteadygo Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Was first to score a European goal at Highbury in a home leg European Inter Cities Fair Cup match in 1963. Great player, loved to see him flying down the wing. RIP and condolences to family and friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenkibby. Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Very sad news, loved watching him play. I still have my old wooden rattle from back in the day with Skirton's name wrote on it alongside Galley Sharpe and a few others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Final 3 Star Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 3 hours ago, downendcity said: In my mind Skirton used to run through defenders! My recollection is of his knocking the ball past the full back and getting to the byeline and hitting a cross on the 6 yard line for Galley to collect - usually along with the keeper! Happy days. Yes, exactly! Would hit the ball into the open space behind the defender, beat him for speed, and whip over a cross. No frills, but very exciting and effective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseybean Posted May 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southvillekiddy Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Biggest bloke I've ever seen on the wing but he could shift and defenders just slid off him. Powerful bloke. Very rarely didn't get to the byeline and put a cross over. R.I.P Mr Skirton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashtonboy Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 RIP Alan. Fond memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downendcity Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 46 minutes ago, Final 3 Star said: Yes, exactly! Would hit the ball into the open space behind the defender, beat him for speed, and whip over a cross. No frills, but very exciting and effective. Direct style of wing play I think would best describe it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobintheRed Red Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Great winger who could certainly ride a tackle very quick aswell for his size R.i.p Al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjd Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 RIP Alan brought back fond memories of that time in my life.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTRFTG Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Very sad news. Terrific winger who always impressed this yung 'un when he first started going. And boy, what a haircut...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazooka Joe Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 19 hours ago, Rudolf Hucker said: Sad news. The first time I remember seeing him play was around 1968 against us for Blackpool at AG - a game they won (I think) 2-4. He tore us apart that day, playing on the lest wing even though he was predominantly right footed. Unusually for those days, that game was recorded for TV. I was amazed and delighted when we signed him the following season. He was fast and strong although I’d never describe him as “tricky” but he was a good signing for us. He’d made a name for himself playing for Arsenal so he had a good pedigree and had a swagger in the way he played. He formed a key part of one of my most memorable and favourite City teams Rest peacefully Alan. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. After the game a group of us sprogs watched the large angry crowd gathered outside the old Grandstand belting out "Sack the Board !" and "Ford must go !" You're right, Skirton played a blinder and, I think, got two of Blackpool's goals. I think this was the game that inspired the board to get him on our books. Scored for us against Tottenham in the League Cup semi final at Ashton Gate. RIP Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudolf Hucker Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 1 hour ago, Bazooka Joe said: After the game a group of us sprogs watched the large angry crowd gathered outside the old Grandstand belting out "Sack the Board !" and "Ford must go !" You're right, Skirton played a blinder and, I think, got two of Blackpool's goals. I think this was the game that inspired the board to get him on our books. Scored for us against Tottenham in the League Cup semi final at Ashton Gate. RIP Alan. I well remember the angry mob behind the Grandstand and the "Ford must Go" chants - now that you've reminded about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Old Boy Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 32 minutes ago, Rudolf Hucker said: I well remember the angry mob behind the Grandstand and the "Ford must Go" chants - now that you've reminded about it! Bet you got more excited a few years later, when the chant was “Dicks out” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 Why is nothing on the OS? Rip Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickJ Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 7 hours ago, Final 3 Star said: Yes, exactly! Would hit the ball into the open space behind the defender, beat him for speed, and whip over a cross. No frills, but very exciting and effective. 7 hours ago, southvillekiddy said: Biggest bloke I've ever seen on the wing but he could shift and defenders just slid off him. Powerful bloke. Very rarely didn't get to the byeline and put a cross over. R.I.P Mr Skirton Yep both the above my memory too. My dad used to take me in the East End, I can vividly see Alan Skirton marauding down the right wing towards us and whipping a cross over. RIP great player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivorguy Posted May 13, 2019 Report Share Posted May 13, 2019 A proper old time footballer Thanks for the memories Rest in peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudolf Hucker Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 Here is the link to the City v Blackpool match, played on 16 September 1967, to which I referred earlier in this thread. It's 42 minutes of highlights back before the world had any colour in it and fifty shades of grey was all you could see on your TV. As I remembered, Skirton had a great game, scoring two (16 and 37 minutes in the recording) and 'assisting' in another. Watching it is good fun! See how many men turned up on the terraces wearing ties! I didn't see any women in the crowd - even though I, of course, looked very closely. The ball must have been red hot back then because neither goalkeeper kept it in their hands for more than a couple of seconds before kicking or throwing it out. Players really needed to stab an opponent to warrant being booked. Kicking the ball away would cause the referee to have a 'quiet word' with the offender whereas pushing an opponent intentionally and angrily to the floor (a straight red card offence today) would prompt the ref to have a 'strong word'. Some take aways. Hugh McIlmoyle was as ordinary as I remember him - particularly on the floor; Jimmy Armfield was indeed a very good full back; Gordon Milne, whom Blackpool signed from Liverpool, was different class; the number 11 on the back of Lou Peters' shirt was every bit as widely spaced as ever I recalled and I've no idea why; and the crowd noise was not as constant as us old timers would have you believe! And finally, Alan Skirton - the subject of this thread - was a top, top player and I am privileged to have seen him play for Bristol City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blockbrowt1 Posted May 14, 2019 Report Share Posted May 14, 2019 RIP Alan. Fond memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerseybean Posted May 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2019 ALAN SKIRTON"S FUNERAL- 3RD JUNE 12 NOON , HAYCOMBE CREMATORIUM, BATH BA22RQ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Never to the dark side Posted May 20, 2019 Report Share Posted May 20, 2019 I have a copy of the 4-2 defeat at home by Blackpool when Alan was playing for Blackpool. One of my memories of mine(I THINK) was when we were playing away at one of the "orrible" grounds Wrexham/Chester Brentford QPR? One of the opposition pulled Skirtons shirt you could really grab hold of those cotton shirts in the 1960's Skirton was stopped in his tracks Skirton took his shirt off and threw it at the player as if to say you want it have it and Skirton got sent off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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