The inside forward signed for Tottenham Hotspur in May 1937 before joining the club's "nursery team" Northfleet United.
At the onset of WW2 he joined the Royal Artillery and was a war time guest player at clubs including Charlton Athletic, Fulham, Harlepool, Middlesbrough, Swindon Town, York City and Bristol Rovers.
After leaving White Hart Lane in July 1947 he had spells with Gillingham and Brighton & Hove Albion.
After gaining a full coaching badge from the Football Association in 1947, Skinner took up his first overseas post as an adviser to the Finland before taking up the position of player/coach at Hastings United.
Skinner returned to England as manager of Eastbourne Town from 1954[4] until 1959 and later held the post of chief coach of the Sussex FA.