By Neil Johnston

Copyright bbc

Josh flew to Spain’s capital several times last season to watch Conor play for Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile in April 2024 – four months before his £33m move from Chelsea to Atletico – Conor was among 315 fans who watched Raynes Park Vale, the club Josh managed before he was appointed Chertsey boss, against Hartley Wintney, external in the eighth tier of English football.

So will Conor be flying in from Spain to watch Chertsey play in the Southern League Premier Division South anytime soon?

“It’s possible,” adds Josh. “La Liga has a winter break and Conor comes back to England for about a week. There’s a chance we might see him at a game around then.

“He was back last weekend during the international break to see us all, but we had an away game at Poole and it was a bit too far for him to travel.

“He likes being around it. I actually think it helps him.

“It’s nice for him to see his brothers playing or managing at a lower level, where the facilities aren’t so good, the pitches aren’t so great, you’ve got referees who are not at the top level.

“Conor hasn’t been used to that because he grew up at Chelsea and has always been in a professional environment.”

Conor’s route to the top has not been straightforward though. He was sent out on numerous loans by Chelsea before being given an extended run in the side and had minor heart surgery in 2018 to fix an irregular heartbeat.

“People don’t realise the things he has been through to reach the level he is at,” Josh says.

“He doesn’t take it for granted. He’s worked extremely hard for it and made sacrifices.

“I’m extremely proud of Conor, but I’m also extremely proud of all my brothers and my family.”