Paul Fisher (cricketer, born 1954)

Paul Bernard Fisher (born 19 December 1954) is an English educationalist, who was headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School between 1998 and 2016. He played first-class cricket for Middlesex, Worcestershire and Oxford University from 1974 to 1981.[1] As a cricketer, he was a specialist wicket-keeper, with a batting average in single figures in both forms of the game.

Paul Fisher
Personal information
Full name
Paul Bernard Fisher
Born (1954-12-19) 19 December 1954 (age 71)
Edmonton, Middlesex, England
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1974–1978Oxford University
1975–1978Combined Universities
1979Middlesex
1980–1981Worcestershire
FC debut24 April 1974 Oxford Univ. v Leics
Last FC25 July 1981 Worcestershire v Australians
LA debut17 May 1975 Combined Unis v Warks
Last LA31 August 1980 Worcestershire v Kent
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 57 12
Runs scored 654 38
Batting average 9.21 6.33
100s/50s 0/0 0/0
Top score 42 14*
Catches/stumpings 92/12 9/2
Source: Cricinfo, 11 January 2026

Fisher was born in Edmonton, Middlesex, and was educated at St Ignatius' College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he read Literae Humaniores.[citation needed]

In August 1973, aged 18, he kept wicket for Middlesex Young Cricketers against Buckinghamshire Young Amateurs at Hoovers Sports Ground, Wembley; the Middlesex side also included a 16-year-old Mike Gatting.[2] Early the following year, Fisher made his first-class debut, for Oxford against Leicestershire at The University Parks, taking a catch to dismiss opposition keeper Roger Tolchard and scoring 14 and 15.[3] He played six further games for Oxford that season, ending 1974 with 13 catches.[4] He also played for Essex Second XI.[5]

In 1975, Fisher continued to play for Oxford, hitting his highest score of 42 against Warwickshire in June.[6] Fisher played in the University Matches of 1975[7] 1976,[8] 1977[9] and 1978,[10] finishing on the winning side in 1976 (all the other matches were drawn).

Fisher made his List A debut for the Combined Universities) in 1975 away against Warwickshire; he played eight further List A matches for the Combined Unis, who never made it out of the group stages.[11][12] Fisher made his debut in county cricket in August 1979, playing for Middlesex against Worcestershire at Lord's;[13] he would only play two further matches for Middlesex; a first-class match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge[14] and a List A match against Hampshire at Dean Park[15]

For the 1980 season, he moved to Worcestershire, where he remained the following year as well, but never managed to hold down a regular spot as keeper in the face of strong competition from David Humphries. He made his county debut for Worcestershire on 6 August 1980 against Gloucestershire, taking 5 catches in Glouc's first innings.[16] He made three List A appearances for Worcestershire in 1980. The last game of his career was for Worcestershire against the Australians at Worcester in late August 1981; Fisher bowed out quietly with just one dismissal, that of Australian captain Kim Hughes.[17]

Fisher worked as a teacher at Marlborough College and Prior Park College before becoming headmaster of Mount St Mary's College and from 1998 to 2016 Loughborough Grammar School.[18]

References

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  1. "Teams played for by Paul Fisher". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  2. "Middlesex Young Cricketers v Buckinghamshire Young Amateurs in 1973". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  3. "Oxford University v Leicestershire in 1974". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  4. "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Paul Fisher". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  5. "Essex Second XI v Kent Second XI in 1974". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  6. "Oxford University v Warwickshire in 1975". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  7. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 8 July 1975. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  8. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 2 July 1976. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  9. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 1 July 1977. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  10. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 30 June 1978. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  11. "First-Class Matches played by Paul Fisher". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  12. "List A Matches played by Paul Fisher". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  13. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 31 August 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  14. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 7 September 1979. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  15. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 3 September 1978. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  16. "The Home of CricketArchive". Cricketarchive.co.uk. 8 August 1980. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  17. "Worcestershire v Australians in 1981". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 May 2007.
  18. "Loughborough Grammar School: Welcome". Lesgrammar.org. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
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