Memories of Ernie Skipper

ERNIE SKIPPER

The Hamlet Historian receives a number of inquiries about former players, and where possible we try to provide information. Recently we received an interesting email from Dave Ashford of Ipswich. 

“I lived in Lambeth as a boy and went to the Grammar School in Westminster where our schoolmaster who took us for football and other sports was Ernie Skipper who played for the Hamlet during the 1950s. He was for a time Skipper by name and Skipper on the field too! I watched him at Champion Hill many times when the goalkeeper was Dave Darvill. From time to time my Dad took me to see away games. One memorable one was a trip from Clapham, where we lived, over to Leytonstone.

I corresponded with Mr Skipper a few times and the last time I heard from him, he was teaching in a school in Tulse Hill, I think. He would be at least 83 now, so I expect he's passed on. Do you have any details on him as a player and what happened to him?

For my part I had a trial as goalkeeper on the practice pitch at Champion Hill about 1957. Despite saving two penalties I wasn’t taken on. I had a senior amateur career with Epping Town and Woodford Town before moving to Suffolk in 1965 where I played in the old Athenian League with Harwich & Parkeston, who I also later managed. After I stopped playing I joined Felixstowe Town, in the Eastern Counties League. At present I have done every job imaginable. I am currently President and have recently been rewarded by the FA with a long service medal.”

A similar email came from Ian Harper.

Hi Jack! I am contacting you to see if you recall a player by the name of Ernie Skipper? He was the sports master at my school – Westminster City Grammar School in Victoria, London – during 1950-55, and I wondered what happened to him. Ernie taught PE and Football during my time. He also helped me with athletics, both track and cross country. He had qualified at Carnegie PE College and had a pink coloured track suit with a college badge on it. My reason for asking you for info was that I can`t find any in the old school mags I have! Any news would be interesting to know. 

Original article from HH 26 Winter 2014

Postscript

From Stan Wolfson: When I was a schoolboy I attended Westminster City School. I was living in Camberwell at the time. My PE teacher was a young man who played for Dulwich Hamlet. His name was Ernie Skipper (sometimes called Jim). He captained the side and played as a halfback. I still remember the forward line, from right to left, Field, Brown, Everett, Crisp and Dobbs. I remember going to Stamford Bridge to watch the team play Corinthian Casuals in a cup semi-final. I often wonder what happened to Skipper. Do you have any info?

To my shame I do not have any notes about Ernie 'Jim' Skipper after he left the club. If anyone can fill us in with any details it will be much appreciated.