Tom Conlon

Tom George Sawyer Conlon (born 3 February 1996) is an English footballer who plays for League Two side Port Vale, where he is also club captain. He is a descendant of Football League players George Heppell and Albert Pearson.

Tom Conlon
Personal information
Full name Tom George Sawyer Conlon[1]
Date of birth (1996-02-03) 3 February 1996[2]
Place of birth Porthill, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 10
Youth career
2003–2012 Stoke City
2012 Newcastle Town
2012–2013 Peterborough United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Peterborough United 1 (0)
2014 → Stevenage (loan) 5 (0)
2015–2018 Stevenage 56 (2)
2018 → Billericay Town (loan) 1 (0)
2018– Port Vale 80 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:54, 6 February 2021 (UTC)

Conlon began his career in the youth set-up at Stoke City, later joining the youth academies at Newcastle Town and Peterborough United respectively. He made a handful of appearances in the first-team at Peterborough, before signing for Stevenage on loan in September 2014, a deal that was subsequently made permanent in January 2015. He signed with Port Vale in July 2018 and was appointed club captain in January 2021.

Career

Early career

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]

Stevenage

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]

Port Vale

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]

Style of play

Conlon is a left-footed midfielder with good ball-control skills, vision and aggressiveness.[49]

Personal life

His great-grandfather, George Heppell, played as a goalkeeper for Port Vale from 1937 to 1952. Heppell's father-in-law, Albert Pearson, played for Port Vale, Liverpool and others in the 1910s and 1920s.[50]

Career statistics
As of match played 6 February 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Peterborough United 2013–14[8] League One 1010001[lower-alpha 1]030
Stevenage 2014–15[16] League Two 13000001[lower-alpha 2]0140
2015–16[18] League Two 32210101[lower-alpha 1]0352
2016–17[21] League Two 4000100050
2017–18[28] League Two 12020003[lower-alpha 1]0170
Total 612302050712
Billericay Town (loan) 2017–18[31] IL Premier Division 1000000010
Port Vale 2018–19[51] League Two 34310004[lower-alpha 1]0393
2019–20[52] League Two 22120102[lower-alpha 1]0271
2020–21[53] League Two 24510104[lower-alpha 1]0305
Total 8094020100969
Career total 14311804016017111
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  2. Appearance in League Two play-offs

References
  1. "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. May 2013. p. 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2020/2021". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. "Tom Conlon - Midfielder - First Team - Port Vale". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. "Conlon takes pride of place as Posh kids shine in the FA Cup". Peterborough Telegraph. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  5. "Ferguson Swoops For Teen Star". EvoStik. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  6. "Peterborough United 2–0 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  7. "Teenager pens Posh pro deal". efl.com. 22 December 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  8. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  9. "Peterborough United 1–0 Dagenham & Redbridge". Soccerway. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  10. "Peterborough United 0–0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  11. "Loans: Tom Conlon and Michael Richens arrive from Peterborough United". Stevenage F.C. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  12. "Stevenage loan signings from Peterborough in squad for Shrewsbury match". Hertfordshire Mercury. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  13. "Stevenage 1–0 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  14. "Peterborough United pair make Stevenage switch". BBC Sport. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  15. Edwards, Michael (9 January 2015). "Peterborough duo's potential led to Stevenage contracts". The Comet. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  16. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  17. Hemmings, Mark (15 July 2015). "Everyone looks up to Teddy Sheringham, says Stevenage midfielder". The Comet. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  18. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  19. "Stevenage 0–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  20. "Hartlepool United 1–2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  21. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  22. "Stevenage 2–1 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  23. "Stevenage: Tom Conlon to miss up to nine months with knee injury". BBC Sport. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  24. Metcalfe, Neil (29 April 2017). "Sarll: 'If he realises his potential he will be a terrific player'". The Comet. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  25. "Stevenage midfielder Tom Conlon signs new deal with League Two side". BBC Sport. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  26. "Report: Hitchin Town 1–1 Stevenage". Stevenage F.C. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  27. "Stevenage 3–1 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  28. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  29. "Tom Conlon joins Billericay Town on loan". Stevenage F.C. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  30. "Midweek loan round-up". Stevenage F.C. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  31. "Billericay's Tom Conlon loan set to end after one game". Echo News. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  32. "League Two – 2017–18". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  33. "Player meetings concluded – retained/released list available". Stevenage F.C. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  34. "Tom Conlon: Port Vale sign former Stevenage midfielder". BBC Sport. 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  35. Baggaley, Michael (28 July 2018). "Injury blow for Port Vale's Tom Conlon". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  36. Baggaley, Michael (10 September 2018). "Port Vale's Tom Conlon happy to be in the thick of the action". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  37. Baggaley, Michael (23 January 2019). "Port Vale's Tom Conlon must learn from 'ill-discipline' says Neil Aspin". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  38. Baggaley, Michael (13 March 2019). "'What have we just seen!' - Port Vale reaction to Tom Conlon wonder goal". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  39. "Player Awards Night 2018/19". www.port-vale.co.uk. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  40. Baggaley, Michael (20 September 2019). "Port Vale injury news on Archer, Browne, Oyeleke, Gibbons, Amoo and Conlon". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  41. "Port Vale 0-1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  42. Baggaley, Michael (21 February 2020). "'Brilliant' - Port Vale praise for midfielder ahead of Walsall clash". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  43. Baggaley, Michael (20 May 2020). "Port Vale talks with out-of-contract players as owners back club through crisis". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  44. Baggaley, Michael (3 July 2020). "Tom Conlon is latest Port Vale player to sign new contract". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  45. "Exeter City 0-2 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 19 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  46. Baggaley, Michael (16 October 2020). "Port Vale: Conlon award, Gibbons and Cullen latest and Salford strengthen". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  47. Baggaley, Michael (28 December 2020). "Port Vale's Tom Conlon highlighted as likely January transfer target". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  48. Baggaley, Michael (11 January 2021). "Tom Conlon's pride in Port Vale captaincy". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  49. Wales, Keith (25 July 2018). "Double boost for Port Vale as Conlon signs and Miller is given all clear to play". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  50. Baggaley, Michael (16 March 2020). "Tom Conlon on family pride and his Port Vale history". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  51. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  52. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  53. "Games played by Tom Conlon in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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