It is sad to announce the tragic death of First Grade Player Ashleigh Connor in a car accident on Appin Road on Thursday night (21-7-11).

Ashleigh was a fantastic club member, inspirational player and beautiful person.

She joined the Illawarra Stingrays during 2009 and helped steer it to two First Grade Premierships and Grand Final wins and was a prodigious goal scorer during her career.

The passing of Ashleigh has devastated the club and all the people who have known her during her football career at the Illawarra Stingrays, her former clubs Marconi Stallions and Macarthur Rams along with the NSW Institute of Sport.

Ashleigh was also a member of the Central Coast Mariners W-League team during the 2009 season and would have featured prominently in any W-League outfit in the Illawarra.

Illawarra Stingrays President Rob McKie said 'Ashleigh will be greatly missed, she was a great talent, dedicated club person and had a cheeky sense of humour that always made her a joy to be around.'

Both Football NSW & Macarthur Rams' condolences go out to her family and friends at this very sad time.