He then joined Kidderminster in the Birmingham League and achieved success, in 1912 the county re-signed him and he continued with them until he retired in 1929.

He made his debut in county cricket in 1912, and played fairly regularly in the two seasons before the first world war.

His most outstanding performance was to dismiss eight Nottinghamshire batsmen for 44 runs on a flat batting track at Grace Road in 1924.

In one celebrated brush with combative Australian and Somerset County Cricket Club stalwart Bill Alley, the following exchange ensued after Skelding had turned down a close appeal for LBW.

After giving Mitchell-Innes and Andrews out lbw, he stared up the wicket at batsman Luckes when the third appeal was made, and finally-almost in disbelief-announced, "As God's my witness, that's out, too."

[1] His wit on the field saw him held in great affection, but his reputation was still underpinned by respect, as he was one of the most accomplished umpires of his day.

Of his contemporaries, only Frank Chester stood in more first-class games with 774, though David Constant has since eclipsed Skelding in second place.

On 14 August 1959, for the very last time, he removed the bails with a theatrical flourish and announced, as he always did, 'And that concludes the entertainment for the day, gentlemen.