# Mick Moore (footballer)

Michael Moore (born 20 July 1952) is an English former footballer. A midfielder, he played for Preston North End and Port Vale but made his name at both Southport and Wigan Athletic. He helped Southport to the Fourth Division title in 1972–73. He played for Wigan in their first-ever season in the Football League. He also enjoyed an extensive non-League career, turning out for eleven different clubs, as well as spending a brief period in the United States with Dallas Tornado.

## Career

Moore played youth football for Adlington Rangers and Blackburn Rovers before becoming an unused squad member for Third Division side Preston North End in 1970–71. During that time, he also played on loan for Chorley in the Northern Premier League.
He signed with Southport, who were then in the Fourth Division, after impressing manager Jimmy Meadows by scoring a brace in the semi-finals of the Liverpool Senior Cup in September 1971. The "Sandgrounders" won promotion in 1972–73 as Fourth Division champions. However, they were relegated in 1973–74, after which Moore was released.
He spent time with Great Harwood and American side Dallas Tornado, before joining Northern Premier League side Altrincham in 1975. Great Harwood strike partner Dave Furnival soon joined him. He hit twenty goals in 45 games in league and cup in 1975–76. His scoring form continued into 1976–77, in which he bagged seventeen goals in 41 games, including a hat-trick against Woking.
He then switched clubs to Wigan Athletic, scoring 11 goals in 29 league games in 1977–78. The club were voted into the Football League after finishing second in the Northern Premier League at the end of the season. However, Moore missed the celebrations as he joined Port Vale for a £3,000 fee in March 1978. He played the last thirteen games of the season, but failed to score and was transferred back to Wigan for £2,000 in August 1978.
He scored nine goals in 41 games for the "Latics" in 1978–79, as Wigan posted a sixth-place finish in their first season of league football. Wigan again finished sixth in 1979–80, and Moore returned to non-League circles with Barrow, who were competing in the Alliance Premier League. He later returned to Southport, who had by then lost their league status. He also played for Lytham (on loan), Leyland Motors, Glossop, Chorley, Horwich R.M.I. and Adlington Athletic.

## Style of play

Altrincham F.C. historian Terry Rowley described Moore as "a fast, tricky inside forward whose style of play was always going to be a crowd pleaser" and a player that was "instantly recognisable... with his blond hair and red boots."

## Career statistics

Source:
| Club | Season | Division | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Preston North End | 1970–71 | Third Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southport | 1971–72 | Fourth Division | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| Southport | 1972–73 | Fourth Division | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 6 |
| Southport | 1973–74 | Third Division | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 4 |
| Southport | Total | Total | 83 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 87 | 12 |
| Dallas Tornado | 1975 | NASL | 20 | 5 | – | – | – | – | 20 | 5 |
| Altrincham | 1975–76 | Northern Premier League | 41 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 20 |
| Altrincham | 1976–77 | Northern Premier League | 27 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 41 | 17 |
| Altrincham | Total | Total | 68 | 30 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 6 | 86 | 37 |
| Port Vale | 1977–78 | Third Division | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Port Vale | 1978–79 | Third Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Port Vale | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Wigan Athletic | 1978–79 | Fourth Division | 41 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 10 |
| Wigan Athletic | 1979–80 | Fourth Division | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
| Wigan Athletic | Total | Total | 64 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 13 |
| Southport | 1982–83 | Northern Premier League | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |

## Honours

Southport
* Football League Fourth Division: 1972–73