Clare Taylor
Encyclopedia
Clare Elizabeth Taylor MBE
(born 22 May 1965 in Huddersfield
) is the first woman to have played on a World Cup team in both cricket
and football. She represented England
at both cricket, as a member of the winning World Cup
cricket team in 1993, and football (World Cup 1995). She was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2000 for her services to women’s sport. Taylor attended Moor End High School
and still has her name on the athletics records board.
. Her England debut came in a 2-0 defeat to Germany
in Bochum
on 16 December 1990. When Bronte were relegated Taylor moved to Knowsley United, who became Liverpool Ladies
shortly after losing the FA Women's Cup
final to Doncaster Belles in 1994. Taylor had joined Knowsley United in preference to the dominant Doncaster Belles because she wanted the challenge of playing for a developing club.
Taylor's Liverpool were also beaten in the following two season's FA Cup finals, by Arsenal
and Croydon
respectively. In 1993 Taylor had played for Knowsley United in the FA Women's Premier League Cup final at Wembley and for England women's cricket team in the World Cup
final at Lord's Cricket Ground
.
During her amateur sporting career, Taylor was employed by the Royal Mail
. Though she noted: "The amount of time I spend away on unpaid leave has got beyond a joke." Although Taylor preferred football to cricket, she focused on cricket after being dropped from the England football team.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 22 May 1965 in Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
) is the first woman to have played on a World Cup team in both cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and football. She represented England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at both cricket, as a member of the winning World Cup
1993 Women's Cricket World Cup
The 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup was held in England. Teams from Australia, England, India, Ireland,New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and the West Indies took part in a round robin format with the top two teams contesting the final. New Zealand won all 7 of their matches to top the table,...
cricket team in 1993, and football (World Cup 1995). She was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2000 for her services to women’s sport. Taylor attended Moor End High School
Moor End Technology College
Moor End Technology College is a community comprehensive school located in Crosland Moor, Huddersfield in England. It opened in 1972 and was known as Moor End High School. The name was changed in 1999 when it became a Technology College as part of the specialist schools programme. In September...
and still has her name on the athletics records board.
Football career
Taylor began playing at age 11 and after answering a Women's Football Association advert in Shoot magazine, started playing for Bronte LadiesBronte L.F.C.
Bronte L.F.C. was an English women's football club based in Bradford in West Yorkshire. Founded by Bradford City FC director Bill Roper in 1968, the club began playing in the Yorkshire League before joining the North West League in 1973. Bronte were invited to join the new Division One in 1991 and...
. Her England debut came in a 2-0 defeat to Germany
Germany women's national football team
The German women's national football team represents Germany in international women's football and is directed by the German Football Association . The team – informally called West Germany in English – played its first international match in 1982...
in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
on 16 December 1990. When Bronte were relegated Taylor moved to Knowsley United, who became Liverpool Ladies
Liverpool L.F.C.
Liverpool Ladies Football Club is a semi–professional women's football club affiliated with Liverpool Football Club and playing in the FA WSL...
shortly after losing the FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
final to Doncaster Belles in 1994. Taylor had joined Knowsley United in preference to the dominant Doncaster Belles because she wanted the challenge of playing for a developing club.
Taylor's Liverpool were also beaten in the following two season's FA Cup finals, by Arsenal
Arsenal L.F.C.
Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...
and Croydon
Charlton Athletic L.F.C.
Charlton Athletic Women's Football Club play in the FA Women's Premier League National Division in England. Between 2000, the year it was founded from Croydon Women's F.C. and 2007, Charlton had one of the most successful women's teams in England...
respectively. In 1993 Taylor had played for Knowsley United in the FA Women's Premier League Cup final at Wembley and for England women's cricket team in the World Cup
1993 Women's Cricket World Cup
The 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup was held in England. Teams from Australia, England, India, Ireland,New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and the West Indies took part in a round robin format with the top two teams contesting the final. New Zealand won all 7 of their matches to top the table,...
final at Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
.
During her amateur sporting career, Taylor was employed by the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
. Though she noted: "The amount of time I spend away on unpaid leave has got beyond a joke." Although Taylor preferred football to cricket, she focused on cricket after being dropped from the England football team.