Aaron Skinner’s tenacious style of defending, as well as his excellent work rate, and versatility meant that he was a regular starter for the Spurs Under 18 side, after joining Spurs’ Academy set-up during the 2019/20 season. From Salford, in Lancashire, Aaron Skinner had previously been with Bury, before moving to Bolton Wanderers’ Academy set-up after Bury’s Academy had closed. A central defender who can also fill in at full-back, or in midfield mainly as a defensive-midfielder, Aaron is a player who is good on the ball but also strong in the challenge. After joining Spurs on trial in the autumn of 2019, Aaron made his competitive debut for the Spurs Under 18 side in an Under 18 Premier League Cup fixture with Stoke City, and soon after that match he signed for Spurs. I watched every game that Aaron played for Spurs’ Under 18 side during the 2019/20 season, and although he would often play in central defence, often alongside Marqes Muir, Aaron would also play in defensive-midfield on occasions.

I remember two matches well in which the then second year scholar played in defensive-midfield for the Spurs Under 18 side. The first one was against Brighton (away), a game that Aaron played tremendously well in, and where he won so many challenges in the midfield, before later moving to full-back for the latter stages of the match. I named Aaron man of the match for that one, and also the game against Swansea City soon after, when he also played in defensive-midfield and did really well. He finished the 2019/20 season really strongly for the Spurs Under 18 side, and he would even make the bench for the Spurs Under 23 side. During the 2020/21 season Aaron didn’t make many appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side after pre-season, although he would make two Premier League 2 appearances for Sunderland when on he was on trial with them, in addition to his two appearances for the Spurs Under 23 side during that same season. Aaron would leave Spurs at the end of the 2020/21 season.

After spending some time without a club, Aaron joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side Bamber Bridge (they are based Lancashire) in the November of 2021. There was a Spurs connection with Bamber Bridge at the time, with former Spurs player and Academy graduate already Mark Yeates playing for Bamber Bridge during that season. Aaron made his league debut for Bamber Bridge in a 1-0 win over Basford United in late November, and he would play a really good number of games during the remainder of that 2021/22 season, helping Bamber Bridge to a sixth place finish in the league. Remaining with the club for the following 2022/23 season. Aaron has been a regular starter for Bamber Bridge so far during this season, and he has been versatile in where he has played, and he has scored two goals so far this season. 

Bamber Bridge currently sit in 7th place in the league this season, and it is great to see the 20 year old former Spurs Academy player getting vital experience of playing non-League football regularly, as he continues to get better. I would like to wish Aaron all the very best of luck for the remainder of this season, and I am sure that he will work his way back up the leagues in the future.