Gavin Skelton

Infobox Football biography
playername = Gavin Skelton


fullname = Gavin Richard Skelton
height = height|ft=5|in=10
nickname = Skeleton
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|3|27
cityofbirth = Carlisle
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Kilmarnock
clubnumber = 19
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1997–2000
2000–2001
2001–2008
2008–
clubs = Carlisle United
Workington
Gretna
Kilmarnock
caps(goals) = 001 0(0)
000 0(0)
189 (29)
002 0(1)
pcupdate = 4 September 2008 (UTC)

Gavin Richard Skelton (born March 27, 1981 in Carlisle) is an English footballer who is currently playing for Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock.

Career

Skelton started his career at Carlisle United as a trainee. In 1997, after three years at Brunton Park he moved to non-league Workington Reds and one year later joined then UniBond League outfit Gretna. Gretna joined the Scottish Football League in 2002, eventually gaining promotion to the Scottish Premier League during the 2006-07 season. He played an important part of the clubs upturn in fortune. In the 2006 Scottish Cup final versus Hearts, Skelton missed the crucial kick in the penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. His miss denied Gretna their first major trophy, however they still qualified for the UEFA Cup as a result of their run to the final.

Due to Gretna's financial difficulties, in April 2008 it was reported that Skelton was in talks with Kilmarnock and Aberdeen [cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/04/15/kilmarnock-could-offer-spl-lifeline-to-gretna-s-gavin-skelton-86908-20383558/|title=Kilmarnock Could offer SPL Lifeline to Gretna's Gavin Skelton|publisher=Daily Record|date=15 April|accessdate=2008] On the 19^th of May, 2008 Skelton was part of the remaining 40 staff members who were released by Gretna. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/7408191.stm|title=Gretna lay off remaining 40 staff|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=May 19|accessyear=2008] Two days earlier, Skelton had scored the winning goal on his side's final SPL fixture against Hearts. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7397752.stm|title=Gretna 1-0 Hearts|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=May 19|accessyear=2008] In June 2008 Skelton signed for SPL side Kilmarnock. His former Gretna team mate Abdul Osman failed a medical for the Rugby Park side and signed for Northampton Town FC. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/k/kilmarnock/7441212.stm|title= Skelton signs on for Kilmarnock|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=June 9|accessyear=2008]

Personal Life

His sister, Helen, is a presenter on the popular children's television show "Blue Peter".

References

External links

Persondata
NAME=Skelton, Gavin Richard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Skelton, Gavin
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football (soccer) player
DATE OF BIRTH=March 27, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH=Carlisle, Cumbria, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=