Ian Moore

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Ian Moore (born 26 August 1976 in Birkenhead) is an English professional footballer, who plays for League One side Tranmere Rovers . He mostly plays as a centre-forward but is also able to play on the right wing. He is the son of current Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore.

[edit] Career

Moore began his career at Tranmere Rovers, where he broke into the first team while still a teenager, and made more than 50 appearances. He also spent a short period on loan at Bradford City to gain more first team experience. His impact on a Tranmere side that at the time was a regular contender for promotion to the Premier League, where his records for goals and assists and all-round contribution to play were impressive, along with his inclusion in England youth sides at all levels up to under-21's, led many to believe he was destined to play at an even higher level.

He made his first big-money move in March 1997 in a £1million move to Nottingham Forest under Frank Clark but failed to make a significant impact – getting just one goal in 15 games and so was loaned out again, this time to West Ham United. Moore was given little chance at the Boleyn Ground and made just one substitute appearance.

Stockport County would be the next team to take a gamble on the goal-shy striker who signed him for a club record fee of £800,000. To some extent the gamble paid off and Moore gave a goal return of almost one goal in every four games – netting 20 times and becoming the club's leading scorer. This rapid improvement in form brought the attention of north west neighbours Burnley and Moore moved to Turf Moor for a £1million record transfer fee in the winter of 2000.^{[citation needed][clarify]}

Moore became known at Turf Moor for his pace and dedication, and would regularly chase down goalkeepers and defenders to try and force mistakes. Moore would go on to make almost 200 appearances for 'The Clarets', scoring 37 league goals in the process. He seemed to enjoy the FA Cup most though – netting a hat-trick against Canvey Island and a double against Bournemouth. He was scouted by several larger clubs, but actual bids for the striker failed to materialise and Moore remained at Burnley. Moore was likened by some fans to be like a "dog with a balloon".

As his career progressed at Turf Moor, Moore was increasingly played as a winger, a position which would try to use his pace. This was not a position which Moore enjoyed though, and he would often visibly 'sulk' in games, and his previous determination had gone. Whilst at Burnley he also suffered a series of injuries which, while not career ending, were severe enough for the previously quick striker to lose much of his pace.

In the last year of his contract, Leeds United decided to sign the striker, where he re-joined the ex-Burnley assistant manager, Sam Ellis. Moore was sold by Steve Cotterill for a fee of £50,000, an amount many Burnley fans were surprised at due to the player's loss of form. Moore hardly featured under manager Kevin Blackwell with many Leeds fans seeing Moore as a waste of time and space. However, on 19 September 2006 in the League Cup game against Barnet, Moore scored his first goals for Leeds United, netting twice to lead the team to a 3–1 victory.

Under new manager, Dennis Wise, Moore played regularly and looked a completely new player. He scored his first league goal for Leeds United against Southend United at Elland Road and later scored against Stoke City too.

Moore signed for Hartlepool United on 12 July 2007, on a free transfer. But after nine goals from 30 appearances in all competitions he was transfer listed by the club in January 2008.^[1]

On 31 January 2008 Moore joined his father Ronnie when he signed for Tranmere Rovers for an undisclosed fee.^[2] He scored on his debut against his former club Leeds United in a 2–0 Tranmere victory.^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ian Moore career stats at Soccerbase