Tom Conlon

Conlon began his career at Stoke City's academy, spending nine years at his hometown club before being released in the summer of 2012.[4] He subsequently joined Newcastle Town's youth set-up, playing the opening two months of the 2012–13 season for the club's U17 and U18 sides.[5] In October 2012, Conlon was spotted by scouts at Peterborough United whilst playing in the FA Youth Cup for Newcastle Town in a game against Stratford Town, and subsequently signed for the then-Championship club on a two-year scholarship after a successful three-day trial.[4] He spent the remainder of the campaign playing in Peterborough's U18 side.[4] Conlon made his professional debut on 9 November 2013, coming on as a 68th minute substitute in a 2–0 win over Exeter City in an FA Cup First Round tie at the London Road Stadium.[4][6] He was given his first 18-month professional contract by manager Darren Ferguson the following month.[7] He made three appearances in total for the "Posh" first-team during the 2013–14 campaign, all of which were from the substitute's bench.[8][9][10]

Having not featured for Peterborough's first-team at the start of the 2014–15 season, Conlon joined League Two side Stevenage on loan on 13 September 2014 for the remainder of the year, with a view to a permanent deal in the January transfer window.[11][12] He made his debut on the same day his loan move was announced, playing the whole match as "Boro" secured a 1–0 victory over Shrewsbury Town at Broadhall Way.[13] His deal was made permanent in January 2015, with manager Graham Westley saying he just needed to develop physically to make the most of his technical ability.[14][15] He went on to make 14 appearances during his first season with the Hertfordshire club as they narrowly lost out on promotion after defeat in the League Two play-off semi-final.[16] After being given the captain's armband for a pre-season friendly at the age of 19 by new manager Teddy Sheringham, the following season turned out to be Conlon's breakthrough season in the first-team.[17][18] He started the opening game of the campaign, a 2–0 home loss to Notts County and was a mainstay in the centre of midfield up until an injury sustained in November 2015 kept him out of first-team action for five weeks.[18][19] Conlon scored the first professional goals of his career in Stevenage's 2–1 away victory over Hartlepool United on 9 February 2016, giving Stevenage their first win in nine matches.[20] The first goal was a left-footed long-range effort that flew into the top corner, before his second of the match came from close range to double the Hertfordshire side's lead.[20] He made 35 appearances in all competitions during the season, scoring twice, as Stevenage finished the season in 18th place.[18]

After featuring in the club's opening five fixtures of the 2016–17 season,[21] Conlon suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in Stevenage's 2–1 victory over Luton Town.[22][23] The injury ultimately ruled Conlon out of action for nine months,[23] missing the remainder of the campaign.[21] He signed a new contract with Stevenage in April 2017, after manager Darren Sarll stated that "he's had a really tough year ... [but] if he realises his potential he will be a terrific player".[24][25] Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Conlon played his first match in just under a year when he played the first half in Stevenage's pre-season draw with Hitchin Town.[26] He made his competitive return on 19 August 2017, coming on as an 80th minute substitute in the club's 3–1 home win over Grimsby Town.[27] The majority of Conlon's 15 appearances during the first half of the season were from the substitute's bench,[28] and he was subsequently loaned out to Isthmian League Premier Division leaders Billericay Town on a one-month loan deal on 20 February 2018.[29] He made his "Blues" debut on the same day, playing the first 75 minutes in a 2–1 away defeat at Folkestone Invicta.[30] The match proved to be Conlon's only appearance of the brief loan spell as he returned to Stevenage early due to having a "slight injury".[31] The 2017–18 season saw Conlon make 17 appearances in all competitions as Stevenage finished the League Two campaign in 16th position.[28][32] He was released by new manager Dino Maamria upon the expiry of his contract in May 2018.[33]

On 25 July 2018, Conlon signed a one-year contract with League Two side Port Vale after impressing manager Neil Aspin in pre-season friendlies whilst on trial at Vale Park.[34] However he picked up a thigh injury only a few days later, which ruled him out of action for the start of the 2018–19 season.[35] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Forest Green Rovers on 8 September, a game in which Farrend Rawson was sent off for a "wild late challenge" on Conlon.[36] On 22 January, Conlon himself was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of four minutes during a 3–0 defeat at Bristol Rovers in the quarter-finals of the EFL Trophy; Aspin went on to say that Conlon had to learn from the incident and reduce any further ill-discipline in the future.[37] On 12 March, he scored a "stunning" 25-yard volley in a 3–0 home win over Yeovil Town, which would win him the club's goal of the season award.[38][39]

He started the 2019–20 season with the club's number ten shirt and was a key member of the Vale's midfield three until he was sidelined with a hamstring injury in mid-September.[40] He was returned to the starting line-up upon his recovery, but then picked up a suspension after being shown a straight red card for elbowing Josh Gordon in a 1–0 home defeat to Walsall on 7 December.[41] He scored his first goal of the campaign on 15 February, in a 3–0 home win over Colchester United, and was praised by coach Danny Pugh for his "brilliant" performance and work rate.[42] He was signed a new two-year contract after he ended the campaign with one goals in 27 appearances.[43][44]

On 19 September 2020, he scored a "stunning free-kick" and picked up an assist in a 2–0 win at Exeter City;[45] the goal won him that month's League Two goal of the month award.[46] Three months later he was highlighted as a player who should be attracting interest from higher division clubs in Guy Branston's column in The Football League Paper; Branston wrote that "I have been really impressed by his technique, movement, positioning and attacking ability".[47] Interim manager Danny Pugh named him as the club's new captain in January 2021.[48]