Alison Hill (Keeley Mills) 2003

Duration: EP: 293 - 294, 304  |  SE: 7.1 - 7.2, 7.12

 

Alison was a single mother to a young son Christopher when she met Matt Webster, and the three became a family with Matt taking on full-time fatherly duties with Chris. Matt was a life-long Harchester United fan with a season ticket, and Chris developed his own love for the club through Matt. So much so, the little money the family had usually went on Matt and Chris going to every Dragon's game they could, rather than a summer holiday, which after five years, Alison was determined to change.

 

For half term, the family were set for Alison's long-awaited trip to Spain, but shortly after arriving, Matt received a call from the club informing him his seat he had occupied for the last eleven years, North Stand, Block 3, Row F, Seat #61, had been reallocated for the Everton/Harchester replay. Matt was not aware of the rematch scheduling before going on holiday and, to Alison's shock, manages to get a flight home but only two tickets, leaving she behind in Spain with Peter Stringfellow for company! Alison returns home and leaves Matt, taking Chris with her. However, Matt then sees Donna Gibb in the paper, posing with seat #61 - the seat which won a raffle outgoing chairman Phil Wallis held at the replay, presenting the club to the person sitting in it. Matt begins his claim for Harchester United, arguing he is the true owner as the seat came under the terms of his bought season ticket for the whole season.

 

Alison meanwhile, while allowing Matt regular access to Chris, keeps a low profile throughout Matt's public claim. She reappears when Matt's day in court arrives, but when Jeff Stein reveals Matt may not have received a letter informing him of the rematch even though his name was on the mailing list, Alison bizarrely panics and insists they destroy the list, leading Jeff to suspect that she is hiding something. Jeff realises he could put pressure on Alison on behalf of the Boyles by getting Matt’s postman to confirm in court whether he delivered the letter. He then manipulates Matt into persuading Alison to give evidence as his star witness.

 

Once up there, Alison is overwhelmed by Dean's barrister's interrogation, and is forced to admit that Matt did receive a letter only she destroyed it without him ever knowing, so they would still be able to go on holiday. Because of this the judge rules that Harchester were in their right to reallocate Matt’s seat, and therefore, his claim no longer has any merit. Matt cannot forgive Alison, despite she never imagining what missing one game would cause, and he disappears from Harchester leaving she and Chris behind.