Clare Connor OBE Joins EACDT

We are delighted that Clare Connor OBE has consented to join our list of distinguished Patrons – alongside Sir Ian Botham OBE, Mike Gatting OBE, David Gower OBE and the Kenya-born, Essex and England all-rounder, Derek Pringle.

Clare is an all-round cricketer who bats right-handed and bowls slow left arm spin. She made her England One Day International debut in 1995 and played her first Test match that winter. She took a hat-trick against India in 1999 and captained England from 2000 until her retirement from international cricket in 2006.

Clare first came to prominence by playing for the Brighton College (boys’) team a little before her England career began. She also appeared in The Cricketer Cup in 2002, the first woman ever to do so. In 2004/05 she captained the England side to the semi-finals of the 2005 Women’s World Cup in South Africa and, that winter, also played state cricket for Central Districts Women in New Zealand.

Clare taught English, P.S.H.E and PE at Brighton College while heading up their PR operations and also spent time working for Channel 4. Prior to this, she went to the University of Manchester where she was a resident at Hulme Hall.

Clare was awarded the MBE in June 2004 and the OBE in 2006, along with the men’s winning Ashes Team. Also in 2006, Clare became the first woman to play for the all-star charity side, Lashings World XI.

Clare continues to play for Sussex Women and is Head of England Women’s Cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board.