Matt Conlon (Paul Swinnerton) 2000-2001

First Regular Appearance: 4.1 (#203)  Sunday 1st October 2000

Last Regular Appearance: 4.26 (#228)  Sunday 15th April 2001

Duration: EP: 203 - 228  |  SE: 4.1 – 4.26

Position: #5 (Defender) (Captain) (2000-2001)

Last Seen: Captaining the team to qualify for their first Champions League. Sold to Bolton Wanderers in a summer transfer.

A strong central defender, Matt went on loan to the Scottish Football League in the early 1990's. While there he met his future wife Lizzie, and as Matt returned south to the First Division to ply his trade, they had two children, daughter Emma and son Jake. By the end of the decade, Matt was a prominent figure at Queens Park Rangers, rising to the role of captain, but was feeling bogged down with his home life. He begins confiding in the club's receptionist Rachel, who is single and enjoying life, and Matt feels she listens to him. Before long they are doing more than just talking and begin seeing each other in secret. When their affair is revealed, Rachel is sure Matt will set up home with her. Instead Matt is desperate not to lose his marriage and children, and obediently puts in for a transfer, taking his family from London to the Midlands and Harchester United. And away from Rachel... or so he and Lizzie thought!

Manager Ray Wyatt planned to bolster the team's strength in central defence, and believed Conlon had the attributes to be the on-pitch partner for Didier Baptiste. QPR accepted a bid of £1.2M, though without the funds to seek out an accomplished Premier League defender, Harchester knew they were getting in Matt one of the brightest the First Division could offer. Ray shows his faith in Matt and lets him continue his stance as captain at Harchester, while he also becomes the club's PFA Representative (and seems to have their number on speedial!). Though eager to prove himself at what was the biggest club of his career to date, the pressure to be as good and lead his team mates got to Matt. He took much of the blame for the club's record loss of 7-0 to Leeds, and had to contend with his performances now causing Jake to receive playground taunts from his classmates.

Matt overcame this rocky period and proves his worth to his team, and with things seemingly back on track with his marriage, Matt is stunned when Rachel is taken on as the club's new receptionist. Needless to say Lizzie is unhappy about Rachel's reappearance too! When the club hosts a charity event, Harchester Uncovered, Lizzie is due to walk down the catwalk with Matt but backs out at the last minute with stage fright. When Rachel steps into Lizzie's shoes and accompanies Matt on stage, a humiliated Lizzie punches her husband in front of all the press. Still, when Rachel begins seeing Matt's team mate Danny Rawsthorne he cannot stand to see her with anyone else, and is thrown out by Lizzie. Rachel, consumed with guilt leaves town, and Lizzie drops her plans to divorce Matt, the two deciding to try again for the kids' sake.

Matt's good form continues for the remainder of his season at the club, and he is a support during Ray's own marital difficulties. He also comes to the aid of Lynda when physically removing Paul Hankin from her hotel room after she has lost Ray's baby. On the final day of the season, Matt contributes the first of the three winning goals that send Harchester through for their first ever Champions League. When Alan Rothman is appointed manager under new chairman Sam Irving, Matt does not figure in the European-exemplary boss's plans for the team. The club accepts a bid from newly-promoted Bolton Wanderers, which ensured Matt would be able to continue his time in the Premiership.