Alex Patmore was another player to join us from Sheffield University and came to us via Norfolk, an association that has also linked us to former players Steve Livermore, Rob Moyser, Jason Pitcher and Darren Wood. Alex soon acquired the nick name “Albert” after the 1980’s West Indian off-spinner Albert Padmore,and he settled in quickly at fortress Abbeydale.
His early cricket was for Sprowston CC near Norwich but at 13, as his aspirations grew, he joined Premier League side Vauxhall Mallards. His reputation as a wicketkeeper batsman grew and after playing for the Norfolk junior sides he made the Norfolk MCCA team on a handful of occasions in 2006. Alex played for us from 2007-2011 on a full time basis and made a real impact across the whole club. On the pitch he became our go-to batsman whilst he completed teacher training. Of Japanese heritage Alex then got a teaching job in Tokyo where he joined the Tokyo Wombats CC. From 2012-2016 Alex continued to return to Collegiate during his summer holidays and still made a big contribution to what was a developing side.As the holder of a Japanese passport Alex was able to represent Japan. Alex tells me that cricket in Japan is steadily improving with local home grown talent beginning to emerge. Club cricket is based around a 3 Division 40 over competition with T20 tournaments interspersed. The National side feature in World League 8 and Alex was honoured to captain them in 2013. In 2012 he was the Division 8 top run scorer and he is still the only man to score a century for Japan in official matches. Although Alex still plays cricket,he is not able to play for Japan due to work commitments. He currently teaches history at the Saint Maur International School in Yokohama and he has extended a warm welcome to any Collegiate players passing by to drop in and see him!