It is rare in the higher levels of football for the same individual to be both player and manager at the same time but at the non League level, it is slightly more frequent. At the Pilot Field there have been a number of individuals who have sought to fulfil both roles. Some of these individuals will be remembered during the course of the season.
George Skinner, the first Manager of Hastings United in 1948, was appointed as player manager or more correctly player coach. His appointment was announced in August 1948, just a week or so before the beginning of the season and he was adding to his new squad up to the day of the opening match. The task of kick starting the first season of professional football in Hastings was not an easy one, but Skinner’s footballing apprenticeship had prepared him for the task.
Born at Belvedere on June 26, 1917, George Edward Henry Skinner was spotted playing as an amateur for the local Callenders Cable Works team in the Spartan League.He subsequently signed for Tottenham Hotspur, turning professional in 1938. War interrupted his football progress but was a war time guest for Charlton Athletic, Fulham, Hartlepool, Middlesborough, Swindon, York and Bristol Rovers. He finally left Spurs in July 1947 before spells with Gillingham and Brighton and Hove Albion. He became one of the first graduates of the FA coaching scheme at Lilleshall in 1947 which led to a succession of coaching appointments around the world. He spent a brief spell as adviser to Finland before joining Hastings United.
Although finances were initially buoyant at the Pilot Field during Skinner’s reign, with Bernard Moore one of his most successful signings, it was the sale of Moore to Luton Town that kept the club going. Skinner spent approximately four years at the Pilot Field and after a mid season finish in his opening season, a decline set in.  However it was under Skinner in 1949 that United secured their biggest win against Hove in the FA Cup when they won 14-2. Having left Hastings, he returned to Finland to take charge of the Olympic team.
George Skinner’s managerial career after leaving Hastings is extraordinary and he must be the only Hastings manager who can boast that he managed at a National level. He finally returned to the United Kingdom from Finland as manager of Eastbourne Town and later held the post of chief coach of the Sussex FA. In 1962 he travelled abroad to coach in Nigeria before becoming national coach of countries including Libya (1965), Jordan (1968), Saudi Arabia (1969). He took the appointment of national coach with Frank O'Farrell of Iran in 1972. His last managerial position overseas was with Icelandic club IBV in 1976. Under his charge the club became the country’s first club to progress past the first round of the UEFA Cup in 1978, after knocking out Glentoran.
 He retired from football in 1978 and settled in Pevensey Bay. He died on 30 September 2002 at an Eastbourne nursing home.