Matt Connolly

Queens Park Rangers defender Matthew Connolly is making an impression off the pitch in more ways than one.

Connolly, 23, has used his savings to buy C16, the only tattoo parlour in his home town of Hatfield, Herts.

Connolly began his career as a trainee at Arsenal and has also played for Colchester and Bournemouth on loan before his £1m move to QPR.

But while many of his contemporaries are happy to enjoy the perks of a decent salary, Connolly spends his spare time building up his business.

Connolly said: "My dad brought me up very well and you always see stories in the papers about players who have run out of contract and not get a new club, or get injured."

"You need to focus on life after football and that is what I am doing now. Football is not there for ever. You can do coaching but it is not something I want to get into"

"I wanted to create something myself. I was always interested in business, especially as football is such a short career. You need to learn things for when you finish and I saw this as a good opportunity to broaden my horizons."

Connolly does not have a tattoo of his own and leaves the tattooing to experts.  

"It was simply that there was a gap in the market and tattoos are so popular. In my home town there was not a tattooists."

Connolly spends his time after training going through the paperwork with his accountant or coming with new ideas to make the most of his cash.

"There is always a need to advertise and improve. No business can stand still. When I finish training I head for the sop to see how it is going."

"Everything is under control, the business is going well and the shop is always busy."