Barry O'Connor (squash player)

Barry O'Connor

Country	England
Born	31 January 1954 London, England
Medal record Men's squash Representing   England European Team Championships 1977 Sheffield Team 1980 Helsinki Team

Barry K. O'Connor (born 31 January 1954) is an English former squash player. ^[1] He was a two time European team champion. ^[2]

Biography

O'Connor was born in Lambeth, London and educated at Peckham Manor School and Keele University. ^[3]

As a 16-year-old junior he won the Evans Squash Cup, ^[4] won the Drysdale Cup (the national junior title and described as the Junior Wimbledon Championships of squash) and became the youngest ever winner of the East Sussex Open (the latter in 1974). ^[5]

He played for Surrey ^[6] and then Kent at county level. In March 1976 he walked out of West of England championships before finishing his match, which led to the SRA considering suspension. ^[7]

In 1976 he was a sports centre assistant and set a world record for the longest match in the British Amateur Championships; the match against New Zealander Murray Lilley at Wembley lasted two hours 35 minutes. ^[8]

O'Connor made his debut for England in January 1977 ^{[9] [10]} and represented Great Britain men's national squash team at the 1977 Men's World Team Squash Championships.

He went on to win two gold medals for the England men's national squash team at the European Squash Team Championships in 1977 and 1980. ^{[11] [12]}

References

1. "Barry O'Connor (England)". Squash Info. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
2. Palmer, Michael (1984). The Guinness Book of Squash. Guinness Superlatives Ltd Ltd. pp. 137–141. ISBN   0-85112-270-1.
3. "Under 18" . The Scotsman. 20 December 1969. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
4. "Tonight's Sportsreel" . Evening News (London). 10 January 1970. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
5. "Late players mar squash' competition" . Bexhill-on-Sea Observer. 2 March 1974. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
6. "Squash Scene" . Nottingham Evening Post. 19 November 1974. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
7. "Squash stars face axe for walk-out" . Birmingham Daily Post. 29 March 1976. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
8. "Squash record" . The Scotsman. 13 December 1976. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
9. "O'Connor picked for England" . Nottingham Evening Post. 16 April 1977. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "Squash" . Nottingham Evening Post. 25 January 1977. Retrieved 15 July 2025– via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "European Team Squash Championships". InterSportStats. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
12. "Men's European Team Championship: Event History (53 events)". Squash Info. Retrieved 16 July 2025.