Whatever Happened To... Barry Conlon
Irishman Conlon spent six months on loan at Layer Road and failed to agree terms to join the U's permanently at the end of the 2000-01 season. Since then he has very much been a lower league journeyman.
When the U's pulled out of trying to sign him, York City cashed in and sold him to Darlington for a five-figure fee, thought to be £60,000 (£40,000 less than York paid for him). He spent three seasons at the Quakers, scoring 42 goals in 125 appearances.
When his contract finished at Darlington, he joined Barnsley on a Bosman free transfer. He was a first team regular in the first half of his first season at the Tykes, but injury kept him out for the second half. He then struggled to keep a regular place in the first team and was loaned out to Rotherham United where he picked up a knee injury. He failed to make another appearance at Barnsley and quit at the end of the 2005-06 when his contract was up, having scored eight goals in 41 appearances over two seasons.
He returned to Darlington after leaving Barnsley and scored a hat-trick on his second debut for the Quakers. He scored three more goals in 22 appearances and then joined Mansfield Town in January 2007 on a free transfer. He scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Stags, but wasn't offered a new contract at the end of the season.
His next club was Bradford City, where he was initially given a one-year contract, extended to two. He was loaned to Grimsby Town before his contract was up and then joined Grimsby permanently on a two-year contract. During his time at Valley Parade he scored his 100th league goal, one of 17 in 78 appearances for the Bantams.
The 2009-10 season started with two red cards in three games resulting in a seven-match ban, he then rarely featured for Grimsby and in January 2010 was told he could leave club. His contract was mutually cancelled and he joined Chesterfield in February on a short term deal.
He started the 2010-11 season at Stockport County following a summer trial, but had his contract cancelled halfway through the season around the same time he was convicted of drink driving and subsequently banned from driving for three years. He moved to Belgium in March 2011 joining a division three club, but left in April having made just two substitute appearances.
He returned to his native Ireland, briefly joining hometown club Monagan United on trial, and in September 2012 signed for Irish Premier League side Dundalk. He remained with them until the end of the season, scoring one goal in six appearances.
Clubs since leaving the U's: Darlington, Barnsley, Rotherham United (loan), Mansfield Town, Bradford City, Grimsby Town, Chesterfield, Stockport County, Royal Olympic Club de Charleroi-Marchienne (Belgium), Dundalk (Ireland).
This article was originally published on 10th December 2011 and last updated on 8th January 2013.
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